India is a multi-layered nation, we pride ourselves to be an ancient country with cultural wealth and ancient, sacred ground of knowledge and learning. The country can boast of multiple cultures, traditions, sensitivities and communities. Caste system is one of India oldest institutions which so deeply rooted in our country's DNA, that for an average layman it seems impossible to define oneself without it.

For country of nearly 1 billion people, caste and sect and sub-sect is an essential part of one's identity socially and economically as well. Many socially backward communities feel side-lined or trampled even decade after Independence, therefore the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 was formed to prevent offences against the members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes group. It aimed to provide relief to the victims of such offences. The amended Act of 1989 gave speedy justice to the victims. This  Act aims to insulate the victims from the oppression and provide them with special rights and privileges. A fast-track court for complaints made by anyone from the SC and ST community is also established. The Act also left that the crimes which were humiliating in nature towards the person of the above mentioned community would also be severely punished.

The non-SC/ST communities feel that the Act has put their people in an disadvantaged place where any non-SC/ST individual can be declared criminal. This brings inequality amid the communities. The upper caste communities feel that they might get falsely implicated in cases. Several upper caste communities had called upon nation-wide strike, 'Bharat Bandh' to show their displeasure with the Amendment. On March 20, the Supreme Court had diluted the stringent provisions for arrests under the Act, to make sure there were no false implications. The two judge panel had said that there were instances of abuse of the Act for various reasons.

Madhya Pradesh has been most affected by the protests, organisation like the Brahma Samagam Swarna Janklayan Sangathan has said that as many as 150 upper caste organisations were part of the protest. Terming the Act to be 'Black Law', the protests intensified in certain areas, forcing the administration to impose section 144. As a precaution measure, the schools and colleges were closed. Several shops were ordered shut. Many feel that the protests will impact the Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls.

The government has a tough path ahead with the Act and its repercussions. Lok Sabha speaker, Sumitra Mahajan has called upon all parties to discuss and take a step forward together. Her analogy is somehow, interesting as chocolate given to the child will be dear to him, if we snatch it from him, he would cry and react undesirably.  But if he is reasoned appropriately, maybe there will be favourable outcome. She stressed on the need for all political parties to discuss the relevant legal changes too. The recent instances of violence is evidence to growing social injustice which is deplorable. Settling scores between the communities is detrimental for the country.

The Modi-Government has to tread carefully mindful about the both the communities' interests. The Union Cabinet has given its approval for an amendment which will nullify the Supreme Court order of March 20 , which will help to remove any room for interpretation by the courts.