In another instance of ally trouble for the Narendra Modi government, its coalition partner from Bihar, the Lok Janshakti Party, has gone on the warpath over the perceived 'weakening' of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The LJP has warned of the possibility of “intense” protests on August 9 if the BJP-led NDA government did not bring in a law or ordinance to 'strengthen' the statute.

LJP leader and Lok Sabha MP Chirag Paswan has written to PM Modi over the Supreme Court's judgement barring automatic arrest under the SC/ST Act, stating that there is tremendous anger among the people with regard to the order.

“A reaction to this was seen on April 2 when people came out on the streets all over the country to protest. The agitators have called for a Bharat bandh once again on August 9. A similar situation may arise again, to prevent which certain steps need to be taken,” Chirag wrote.

Chirag noted that a reason for the expectation that the August 9 Bharat bandh would be even more intense is the appointment of retired Supreme Court justice A.K. Goel as chairman of the National Green Tribunal. Goel, who was on the bench that delivered the judgement on the SC/ST Act, was appointed as NGT chief immediately after his retirement recently.

According to Chirag, the message that has gone out to the SC/ST communities is that Goel has been rewarded by the Modi government for his judgement on the SC/ST Act.

Chirag demanded that Goel be removed as NGT chairman. Chirag also demanded that the government bring in the ongoing Parliament session a bill to “neutralise” the Supreme Court judgement on the SC/ST Act, or the session be concluded two days ahead of schedule, and an ordinance be brought to strengthen the law.

The LJP has been of late making angry noises with regard to the SC/ST Act. Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Chirag's father, recently hosted a meeting of dalit MPs to discuss SC/ST issues.

In the run-up to the Lok Sabha election, there is speculation about the possibility of the LJP quitting the NDA to join the Mahagathbandhan of the RJD and the Congress. Senior RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh had recently claimed that the LJP would leave the NDA to join the grand alliance in Bihar.

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