Chennai, April 16: The DMK, along with other opposition parties, staged a protest here on Monday against the dilution of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Addressing the gathering, DMK leader M.K. Stalin said the Supreme Court order to dilute the Act was unacceptable.
Stalin demanded the Central government to file an appeal in the Supreme Court and also include the Act under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.
The political parties that participated in the protest were DMK, Congress, IUML, MDMK, VCK and MMK.
The apex court in its March 20 order said that an accused cannot be mandatorily arrested under the Act without an initial probe.
The Dalit organisations and various civil society groups see it as "dilution" and accuse the Narendra Modi government of conniving in the case.
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Adequate LPG stock in Chhattisgarh, no need to panic, says CM Sai
Raipur (PTI): Amid reports of shortage of commercial LPG cylinder in several parts of the country due to the US-Israel-Iran conflict, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Tuesday assured people that they need not worry about the availability of cooking gas in the state.
He asserted that adequate stock of LPG as well as petrol and diesel was available in the state.
Sai said in a statement that authorities have been directed to regularly monitor stock at gas agencies and keep a close watch on the supply chain. Necessary instructions were issued to officials in all districts to ensure a smooth supply of LPG.
The chief minister instructed officials to take strict action if any complaint of black marketing or hoarding of LPG cylinders is received.
Sai urged state residents not to pay attention to rumours and to book cooking gas cylinders as per their actual requirement.
The government was fully alert to ensure the availability of essential commodities to citizens, he emphasised.
Meanwhile, the Chhattisgarh Hotel and Restaurant Association has issued an advisory to hotels, restaurants, caterers and other food businesses across the state, urging them to maintain calm and avoid panic buying.
In the advisory, Taranjeet Singh Hora, president of the association, asked members to maintain coordination and immediately inform it about any major disruption in LPG supply.
He cautioned businesses against hoarding cylinders, saying such practices could worsen the situation for the entire hospitality sector.
The association advised hotels and restaurants to prioritise essential kitchen operations, core menu items and already committed banquet events.
Use electric cooking equipment wherever possible for emergency and staff kitchens such as induction cooktops, electric hot plates, electric rice cookers and kettles, the advisory stated.
