India Court Delays Low-Caste Job Plan
The Indian Supreme Court ordered the government Monday to delay implementation of its plan to give more jobs to lower-caste Hindus, which has sparked violent opposition from upper castes.
As the court deliberated, Indian news agencies reported that at least three people tried to burn themselves to death, and a curfew was imposed in a northern town where a girl committed suicide.
A five-man panel of the court said it hopes a delay will cool protests in which at least 70 people have died since Prime Minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh announced the plan Aug. 7.
The order came as the court was hearing petitions to prevent Singh from implementing the plan to raise the allocation of government jobs for the so-called backward castes, outcastes and tribal people from 22.5% to nearly 50%.
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