Bhim Army supporters blocked the railway tracks in Arrah, Bihar on Wednesday (August 21, 2024), a show of solidarity with Bharat Bandh call after the recent Supreme Court ruling on SC/ST reservations.
The apex court’s recent judgment that States can sub-classify Scheduled Castes listed in the Presidential List for “more” preferential treatment in public employment and education has led to nationwide bandh by Dalit and Adivasi organisations. They have called for a ‘Bharat Bandh’ on Wednesday (August 21, 2024) over their demand for stronger representation and protection for marginalized communities.
On Tuesday (August 20, 2024), the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal announced that they would support the Bharat Bandh called by different organizations on Wednesday following Supreme Court’s recent decision concerning reservations for Scheduled Caste (SC). The strike has also been supported by Left parties. The Bahujan Samaj Party also extended support.
Which are the most affected states?
Because of this bandh, it is estimated that states like Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala would be impacted most.
Various Adivasi-Dalit organisations’ collective will stage a Statewide hartal in Kerala on Wednesday against the Supreme Court order. However, Wayanad district has been exempted from the hartal in view of the recent landslide disaster.
The Odisha Indian Mens Hockey Team roadshow and felicitation is also expected to be impacted by The Bandh at Bhubaneswar.
What is open or closed?
There has been no official word about which services will be operational or non-operational. Transportation facilities may be hit due to these protests and sit-ins across those States. To prevent any untoward incidents additional security measures have been taken at prominent places throughout various states.
Emergency services such as hospitals and banks will continue to function. Banks and other government institutions have not been closed in the absence of any government notice.
Schools and colleges are also expected to run normally. In Jharkhand, public transportation was affected with several buses off the road and schools shut. Schools remain closed in Ranchi and most parts of the State, while several long-route public buses were seen parked at bus stands, inconveniencing commuters.
The Madhya Pradesh home department has directed the collectors and superintendents of police (SPs) of all districts in the state to take necessary steps to maintain law and order situation during the day-long bandh.
Why is Bharat Bandh being observed today?
In a majority judgment on August 1 by a seven-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, States can sub-classify Scheduled Castes notified in the Presidential List for “more” preferential treatment in public employment and education.
Four out of seven judges on the Bench said separately that like in case with Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, “creamy layer principle” should be extended to Scheduled Castes as well as Scheduled Tribes. The benefits of reservation cannot go to affluent individuals or families within these categories but only those who are actually underprivileged among them.
Reasons as to why the Supreme Court upheld the right of States to sub-categorise SCs for quota benefits.
The decision will likely boost the efforts of states like Punjab, Bihar and Tamil Nadu where separate reservations were previously mooted within SC/ST categories. This is because during an election campaign in Telangana last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged that he would set up a committee to investigate this matter, which many have interpreted as a way in which BJP is trying to win over the Madiga caste people.
The Malas displaced the Madigas from their rightful share of representation, according to alleged claims by Madigas. It is also likely to strengthen the Opposition’s demand for a caste census to ascertain the share of different groups in the reservation pie.
August 1 observations made by Supreme Court judges led to confusion among vocal Dalit communities throughout India on what might qualify as “creamy layers” while discussing about excluding them from Scheduled Caste (SC) quota for jobs and education.
How many political parties have supported Bandh call?
This was done by twenty-one organizations across India who called for Bharat Bandh against Supreme Court’s August 1 decision regarding SC-ST reservation.
On Wednesday Bahujan Samaj Party extended its support for Bharat Bandh. On Wednesday itself Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav endorsed this Bandh saying that public movements keep Government on its toes.
JMM, Congress and RJD announced their support for Bharat bandh on Tuesday. CPI-M extended solidarity with it too. JMM has asked all its leaders district presidents secretaries and district coordinators at all levels including central committee members MPs MLAs etc.
Are requested actively participate in nationwide strike of 14 hours extending their support. RJD state general secretary and media in-charge Kailash Yadav said that his party has decided extend its support and participate in day-long strike. State Congress spokesperson Rakesh Sinha also said that his party has also extended support to the bandh call.
