Watch: Scuffle erupts between police, Bharat Bandh protestors in Bihar
A clash occurred between Bharat Bandh supporters and police in Jehanabad, Bihar, on Wednesday. The protesters had blocked National Highway 83 in Unta, Jehanabad. Similar roadblocks have been reported in other regions of the state. Organizers of the bandh had requested businesses to shut down for the day-long protest. Notably, while the nationwide protest is likely to affect public transport and private offices, emergency services, including ambulances, are expected to continue operating.
Why does this story matter?
Twenty-one organizations across India have called for a Bharat Bandh on Wednesday in opposition to the Supreme Court's August 1 decision regarding Scheduled Castes (SC)-Scheduled Tribes (ST) reservation. The court's 6:1 ruling allows states to create sub-classification within SC and ST. Critics argue that this decision undermines the principles of reservation and could lead to increased division among communities.
Watch: Scuffle breaks out between bandh supporters, police
NACDAOR's opposition and demands
The National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR) is the umbrella group behind Wednesday's bandh. It has challenged the Supreme Court's decision, arguing that it contradicts the court's earlier ruling in the landmark Indira Sawhney case, which set the foundation for the reservation system. The NACDAOR has also issued a list of demands urging the government to guarantee social justice and fair representation of these communities in both employment and education.
NACDAOR's call for new central act
NACDAOR has called for the immediate release of caste-based data on SC/ST/OBC employees in government services to ensure their proper representation. It has also urged the government to reject the Supreme Court's judgment and enact a new central law, which they believe should be protected from judicial review under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. However, the Supreme Court had previously ruled that laws placed under the Ninth Schedule are not immune from judicial review.
Political parties extend support
Political parties including the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, the Congress, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal have extended their support to the Bharat Bandh. Left parties have also backed this call for a strike. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav voiced his support for the Bharat Bandh on Wednesday, stating that "public movements" serve as a check on "unbridled government."
