Patna: A loose federation of fringe parties and organisations demanding reservation for upper castes and repeal of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act laid siege to the houses of two Bihar ministers on Friday and vowed not to allow any minister or MLA to venture out of their houses if their demands were not met soon.

The protesters, under the aegis of Bharatiya Jan Kranti Dal (Democratic) and Parshuram Sena, arrived at the official residences of industries minister Jai Kumar Singh and public health engineering department (PHED) minister Vinod Narayan Jha in the morning, squatted outside their entrances, blocked movement of people, and raised slogans in support of their demands.

Singh got stuck at his 43 Hardinge Road residence because of the protests but Jha was away in Nalanda to chair a departmental meeting.

His family members were at his 39 Hardinge Road residence.

"It is completely wrong to stage such protests. There is freedom of expression and protest in democracy, but surrounding anybody's house is illegal. The protesters are irresponsible towards society and they should understand that this is not the way to demand anything," Singh told The Telegraph.

The industries minister also said that by demanding removal of SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the protesting groups were attracting disrepute.

"The SC and ST Act is not only applicable to upper castes, but also on all the backward castes. By protesting against it, these groups are proving that they are violent musclemen who indulge in torturing the Dalits. They should see that the backward castes are not protesting," Singh said.

But Singh supported the demand for reservation for upper castes and said that a national commission should be constituted to survey their economic and educational conditions and the poor among them could be provided reservation without impacting the existing reservation for SC, ST and Other Backward Castes (OBC).

The industries minister, who is a JDU leader, also asserted that such protests could be the handiwork of Opposition parties who indulge in caste-based politics.

"Such parties are trying to polarise society in the state and benefit in the forthcoming elections," he said.

Sharing his experience, Jha said his family members telephoned him while he was in Nalanda for an official meeting.

"People from my house said that the protesters were raising slogans outside the gates. I was relieved when they went away in some time. The Opposition is sowing doubts in the minds of people to divide society.

On the other hand we believe in inclusive development," Jha said.

Bharatiya Jan Kranti Dal (Democratic) general secretary Rakesh Dutt Mishra said there should be one law for everybody and there should be no discrimination between people.

"If the upper castes are not provided reservation and the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act) is not removed, we will lock all ministers and MLAs in their houses," Mishra iterated.