Social activist Swami Agnivesh has lashed out at the alleged dilution of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
He was speaking at a seminar organised by the CPI (M), Pattikajathi Kshema Samithi, and Kerala State Karshaka Thozhilali Union, to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the ‘Villuvandi Samaram’ by social reformer Ayyankali in 1893, when he rode through a road in Venganoor on a bullock cart defying the curbs imposed by the ‘upper castes’.
He said the Supreme Court order on the law had come at a time when “judges were crying hoarse that the credibility of the institution was getting destroyed.” “The conspiracy hatched by the government will not go unchallenged. We will continue our struggle until the judgment is withdrawn,” he said.
Swami Agnivesh also cautioned against creating cult figures out of social reformers including Sree Narayana Guru and Ayyankali.
Radhika Vemula, the mother of Rohith Vemula, also spoke on the occasion. Writer K.E.N. Kunjahammed, academic Valson Thampu, Kerala Pulayar Maha Sabha secretary Punnala Sreekumar, CPI(M) State committee member N.R. Balan and district secretary Anavoor Nagappan were also present.
