Bharat Bandh Today Aug 21: A day-long Bharat bandh was called by Dalit and Adivasi groups on Wednesday to protest against the recent verdict by the Supreme Court on the sub-categorisation of quotas for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) groups.
These groups are demanding a wider representation of marginalised communities in jobs and education and ensuring the protection of their constitutional rights. The National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR) has released their demands, including a ‘reversal’ of the verdict.
Bharat bandh today: What will be closed?
Although there has been no official announcement, public services are anticipated to be disrupted in several states. However, all banks will remain open today, with no confirmation of a holiday from either government-owned or private banks.
Nationwide protests by various organizations may disrupt transport and other services today.
Bharat bandh today: School holiday
Educational institutions could also be affected, though no schools or colleges have announced a holiday.
Bharat Bandh Highlights: Dalits, Adivasis call for nationwide bandh. Read to know what's open and what's closed. Follow Financial Express for all the latest updates.
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Police lathi charge people in Patna as they stage protest in support of a day-long Bharat Bandh against the Supreme Court's recent judgment on reservations.
#watch | Bihar: Police lathi-charge people in Patna as they stage protest in support of a day-long Bharat Bandh against the Supreme Court's recent judgment on reservations. pic.twitter.com/5jEMQiagJJ
— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2024
The Bharat bandh called by some Dalit and Adivasi groups to protest against the Supreme Court's recent verdict on the sub-classification of Scheduled Castes (SCs) has partially affected rail and road communications in Odisha on Wednesday.
Security has been beefed up in the state secretariat, heads of department building and other important places in the state.
The day-long Bharat bandh partially disrupted rail and road communications in Odisha on Wednesday. However, police reported that government offices, banks, businesses, and educational institutions continued to operate normally. Security has been beefed up in the state secretariat, heads of department building and other important places in the state.
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav has extended his support for Bharat Bandh. He said the mass movement to protect reservations is a positive effort and it will instil new consciousness among the exploited and deprived.
In a post on X, he said, "The mass movement to protect reservation is a positive effort. It will instil new consciousness among the exploited and deprived and will prove to be a shield of people's power against any kind of tampering with reservation. Peaceful movement is a democratic right."
आरक्षण की रक्षा के लिए जन-आंदोलन एक सकारात्मक प्रयास है। ये शोषित-वंचित के बीच चेतना का नया संचार करेगा और आरक्षण से किसी भी प्रकार की छेड़छाड़ के ख़िलाफ़ जन शक्ति का एक कवच साबित होगा। शांतिपूर्ण आंदोलन लोकतांत्रिक अधिकार होता है।
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) August 21, 2024
बाबा साहब भीमराव अंबेडकर जी ने पहले ही आगाह…
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati has extended her support to the Bharat Bandh which has been called against the Supreme Court ruling that permits sub-classification within reservation categories for Schedules Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Mayawati said that there is anger and resentment against the SC's decision among the people of these groups. (ANI)
The 'Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti' is observing a day-long Bharat Bandh today to protest the Supreme Court's recent judgment on reservations. Visuals show a blockade in Bihar's Jehanabad where supporters have blocked the NH 83 in Unta.
#watch | Bihar: Visuals from Jehanabad where Bharat Bandh supporters have blocked the NH 83 in Unta.
— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2024
The 'Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti' are observing a day-long Bharat Bandh today to protest the Supreme Court's recent judgment on reservations. pic.twitter.com/vIdlGbxMbi
Although there has been no official announcement, public services are anticipated to be disrupted in several states.
However, all banks will remain open today, with no confirmation of a holiday from either government-owned or private banks.
Emergency services will continue to operate as usual.
Nationwide protests by various organizations may disrupt transport and other services today. Educational institutions could also be affected, though no schools or colleges have announced a holiday.
According to media reports, police forces across Rajasthan have been deployed to coordinate with local SC/ST outfits and to ensure peaceful demonstrations.
Several opposition political parties like Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal have extended their support for the Bharat Bandh today.
The protesting groups have issued a list of demands, urging the government to ensure social justice and equitable representation of their communities in jobs and education.
They are also calling for a new central act that would be protected from judicial review under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.
NACDAOR has demanded the immediate release of caste-based data on SC/ST/OBC employees in government services to ensure their proper representation. The organization has also pressed the government to release data on the caste-wise representation of these groups in public services, according to PTI.
Additionally, the group has called for the prompt filling of all backlog vacancies in central and state government departments, as well as in public sector undertakings. In the private sector, they have suggested that companies benefiting from government subsidies or investments should implement affirmative action policies.
The Bharat Bandh has been organized in response to the Supreme Court's ruling, which allows states to further sub-classify Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to ensure reservations for the most disadvantaged castes within these groups, prioritizing those most in need.
The National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR), which called for the bandh, opposes this verdict, arguing that it undermines the court's earlier ruling in the landmark Indira Sawhney case, which established the framework for reservations.
On August 1, a seven-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud ruled by a 6:1 majority that states may further sub-classify Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to allocate reservations to the most disadvantaged castes within these groups, prioritizing those in greatest need.