Won't allow SC/ST Act to be diluted: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asserted that his government will not let the law to prevent atrocities on SCs and STs to be diluted after the Supreme Court laid down new guidelines to prevent its misuse.

He also launched a no-holds-barred attack on the Congress, accusing it of spreading "lies" to create fissures.

"I want to assure the nation that the law which has been made stringent by us will not allowed to be affected (by the SC order)... Do not get trapped by the Congress and those parties who have surrendered to the Congress culture," he said at the inauguration of B R Ambedkar memorial here.

His remarks on the SC verdict and the resultant protests marred by violence assume significance as several opposition parties have accused the BJP and the government of being anti-Dalit.

He said in 2015, it was his government which included several new crimes under the ambit of the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. "From 22, the crimes to be covered under the law were increased to 47 by our government... We also enhanced the compensation to be aid to the victims," he said.

Modi said when the government amended the law, it allowed the provision of denial of interim bail to remain to ensure that it remains effective.

He said special courts are being set up to fast track disposal of cases against the SCs and the STs. "Our government has consistently tried to maintain social balance through the rule of law."