Former MLA Laxman Tiwari Thursday announced his resignation from the Madhya Pradesh BJP in protest against restoration of provisions of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, on a day of Bharat bandh over the issue.
Earlier this year, the supreme court had removed the strict provision of mandatory arrests under the Act.
As the decision triggered nationwide protests by Scheduled Castes organisations, the Centre brought an amendment to the Act during the Monsoon Session to overrule the SC order.
Organisations opposing restoration of the SC/St Act are observing a nationwide shutdown Thursday.
Criticising the amendments brought to the Act, Tiwari said it was "atrocious" to send people to jail merely on the basis of suspicion.
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Tiwari was elected as an MLA in 2008 from Mauganj assembly constituency in Rewa district on the ticket of the Bharatiya Janashakti Party founded in 2006 by Uma Bharti, after she was expelled from the BJP.
The party was merged with the BJP in 2011.
Tiwari didn't get ticket to contest the assembly elections in 2013.
"We didn't have any hopes from the Congress. But now the BJP too has acted in the same manner," he said.
Tiwari claimed that members belonging to the creamy layer of SC and ST communities are meting out injustice to the poor people of their own.
"Our main demand is to withdraw the amendments in SC/ST Act besides the reservation on the basis of economic status," he said while announcing a tour on the issue from Ujjain beginning Friday (September 7).
A meeting of elected representatives from 12 states is convened on September 14 to prepare a strategy in view of the amendments to the Act, he said.
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