CPI(M) demands session to discuss issues on SC communities

The CPI(M) today demanded the Centre to hold a special session of Parliament to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar and to discuss issues relating to the status of Scheduled Caste communities.
During its ongoing 21st Congress being held at Visakhapatnam, the CPI (M) also passed a resolution against "Land grab bill" - referring to the amendments planned by the Centre to Right to Fair Compensation, Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
"On the occasion of 125th birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar, the Congress of CPI (M) demands the government to hold a special session of Parliament to discuss issues connected with status of Scheduled Caste communities," the party's resolution said.

The party claimed that the condition of Dalits has worsened following the advent of neo-liberal policies and issues like untouchability and different forms of violence against schedule caste communities continue to be there.
"Conviction rate in such cases has been low," it added.
Listing other issues concerning Dalits, the party said there is need to strengthen Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the implementation of Manual Scavengers Act.

"Large sections of Dalits in rural India are landless workers without assets. There is a huge backlog in filling up reserved posts. Development schemes lie unimplemented. Dalit Christians and Muslims have been denied recognition as SCs.

"A special session would ensure attention of the entire country is focused on this shameful scourge of Indian society -- inequality on the basis of birth and descent -- and on the urgent need to take comprehensive and strong measures to eliminate it," the resolution said.
The party also reiterated its objections to the amendments proposed to 2013 Land Acquisition Act, terming them as "pro-corporate" and "anti-farmer".
"The party Congress strongly protests against and condemns pro-corporate and anti-farmer amendments to the 2013 Act which the Modi Government is trying to push through Parliament by using its single-party majority status in the Lok Sabha.