SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act

Leader of Opposition Shri Rahul Gandhi writes to PM, seeks withdrawal of cases against youth protesting for SC/ST Act

New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Shri Rahul Gandhi on April 2, 2026, has written to the Prime Minister seeking withdrawal of cases registered during the protests against the diluting of the SC/ST Act in 2018.

In his letter to PM, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha said that the 2018 protests were triggered by a judicial pronouncement that diluted the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, following which Parliament amended the law to restore its provisions and the Supreme Court upheld it in 2020. He noted that many of those facing cases are first-generation learners and the prolonged legal proceedings have adversely affected their education, employment prospects and future.

Urging the government to take a compassionate and just view, he called for a review and withdrawal of all such cases and sought the Prime Minister’s personal intervention to provide relief to the affected youth.

Meanwhile, the Congress Party raised the issue of institutional bias against Dalits and discrimination against honest Dalit officers, citing the resignation of IAS officer Rinku Singh Rahi. Addressing a press conference here, AICC SC Department Chairman Rajendra Pal Gautam, referring to the anniversary of the April 2, 2018, protests to safeguard the SC/ST Act, raised the issue of cases against protesting youths and urged the President not to accept the resignation of the IAS officer.

He said that Dalit officers often face harassment even after reaching top administrative positions, sometimes forcing them into extreme decisions like resignation. Referring to the 2018 protests to safeguard the SC/ST Act, he said that 14 youths lost their lives due to police firing and attacks during the agitation and many participants continue to face legal cases.

In Shri Rinku Singh Rahi’s case, SC Department’s Chairman said that the 2021-batch Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS officer had earlier exposed a multi-crore SC Fund scam as a PCS officer, after which he faced a life-threatening attack and sustained seven bullet injuries. He said that despite this, Rahi did not give up and later became an IAS officer, but he was not assigned any work for eight months. Hurt over this, he refused to draw salary, and eventually resigned due to distress.

He demanded that the President of India reject Rahi’s resignation and direct the Uttar Pradesh government to assign him a dignified responsibility. He also flagged discrimination in educational institutions, citing a recruitment case in Haryana where only three Dalit candidates were selected against 120 assistant professor posts while many qualified applicants were declared “not found suitable.”