The National Confederation of D⛄alit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR) has taken an opposing view to the recent Supreme Court judgment by a seven-judge bench that, according to them, undermines the earlier ruling of a nine-judge bench in the landmark Indira Sawhney case, which established the framework for reservations in India.
Several political parties have extended support to the 'Bharat Bandh', called by Dalit and Adivasi organisations, being observed on Wednesday against a recent Suprem☂e Court judgment that they argue wears away an earlier ruling which established the framework for reservatioওns in India.
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) are am🐠ong the political parties that have announced that they would extend support to the 'Bharat Bandh'.
One of the 🌄states where impact if the bandh was the most visible on Wednesday was Bihar as vehicular traffic was briefly disrupted in parts of the state with protesters putting up blockades in support of the stir.
In Jehanabad district, agitators clashed wit𝐆h security personnel when they tried to block movement of traffic on Natio🍌nal Highway-83, police said. Police also lathi-charged people in an area in Patna.
“Five protestors were detained as they tried to disrupt traffic movem🐼ent on NH-83 near Unta Chowk. They were later removed from the spot and normality was restored,” news agency PTI quoted as saying Hulas Baitha, Sub-Inspector, Town police station.
The National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR) has taken an opposing view to the recent Supreme Court judgment by a seven-judge bench that, a💖ccording𓂃 to them, undermines the earlier ruling of a nine-judge bench in the landmark Indira Sawhney case, which established the framework for reservations in India.
In a landmark judgment on August 1, the Supreme Court ruled that states have the power to sub-classify SCs and STs and said that the authority concerned,⛄ while 𒁃deciding if the class is adequately represented, must calculate adequacy based on effective and not quantitative representation.
NACDAOR released a list of demands, including justice and equity for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Sch𓃲eduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
The NACDAOR has urged the government to reject this judgment, arguing it threate🐷ns the constitutional rights of SCs and STs.
While the group organising the protest has asked all businesses to ✱keep markets closed, as per reports, it was unclear if markets were to be actually shut down or if the shutdown would affect the entire country, as market commi𝕴ttees did not confirm anything.
While the bandh might disrupt public transport and private offices, emergency services like ambulance🔯s will continue to 📖operate.
Media reports said that government offices, banks, schools, colleges, and petrol pumps will remain open despite th💦e Bharat Bandh call.
Essential services such as medicaꦕl care, drinking water, public transport, rail services, and electricity were also expected to be available.
The day-long Bharat bandh🔴 partially affected rail and road communications in Odisha on Wednesday. Government offices, banks, business establishments and educational institutions are functioning normally, police said.
The Home departmen𝔉t in a note on Tuesday, " .... advised officers and employees of various departments working in the state secretariat and heads of department building to reach office by 9.30🎃 am."
The agitators detained trains at Bhubaneswar and Sambalpur while passenger buses did not operate on different routes. Thꦰe protestors also staged demonstrations in different places and blocked several roads including national highways.
Rajasthan was expected to be the most affected sౠtate in India, with schools and coaching classes in cities like Jaipur, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, Deeg, and Bharatpur declared closed for Wednesday, August 21. According to sources cited by in the report, about 10-12 teachers from a government school in Todabheem, Gangapur City, applied for leave on August 21, 2024.
Howev🦹er, schools, colleges, and other 🐬educational institutions in other states w rere to emain open on Wednesday.
There was no announcement about the closure of gover🌠nment offices, banks, schools, colleges, coaching centers, or ℱpetrol pumps. Students and parents were advised to stay in touch with their respective schools for updates over chances of some schools choosing to switch to online classes for Wednesday.
In anticipation of potential unrest, police authorities increased their presence across districts. A high-level meeting wa🎐s reportedly held through video conferencing, and attended by divisional commissioners, district magistrates, and senior police officers.
Weste൩rn Uttar Pradesh, identified as a sensitive area, was placed on high alert. "We have asked our officials to organize meetings with groups calling for the bandh, as well as with market associations, to facilitate better cooperation," the report quoted DGP UR Sahoo as saying.