Nationwide Bharat Bandh on August 21: Protests Against SC Ruling on Reservations

On August 21, 2024, different Dalit and Adivasi organizations demanded a Bharat Bandh to oppose the recent SC/ST order of the Apex Court. The bandh has been called by National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organizations (NACDAOR) to protest against the recent ruling of the court that has allowed further sub-categorization within SC and ST quotas. These communities have raised an alarm of erosion of their constitutional rights with regard to this verdict. The bandh has been backed by some political parties and is likely to disrupt the routine life in several states of the country.

The Factors that led to the Bharat Bandh

The immediate provocation for this Bharat Bandh is the judgment of the Supreme Court of India on the 1st of August, 2024. In the latest verdict, a seven-judge bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud in a 6:1 majority held that states can sub categorize Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to extend quota benefits to more backward castes within the categories. This decision has created concern among many Dalit and Adivasi organizations as they believe that it may result in inequality in the distribution of reservation benefits and may also dilute the constitutional protection given to such communities.

The NACDAOR has put forth several demands, including:

• Overturning of the Supreme Court decision
• Adoption of a new parliamentary law on reservations
• Publication of caste wise statistics regarding SC/ST/OBCs in central government employment
• More of these groups in the higher judiciary
• Recruitment against backlog vacancies in government employment and public sector organizations

Impact Of The Decision On The States And Political Reactions

The Bharat Bandh has seen varied responses across different states:

Rajasthan: The state government has declared Section 144 in several districts to prevent any unwanted situation. The large markets in Jaipur and other cities are shut.

Uttar Pradesh: Partial shutdown reported in western UP, casual strikes in Meerut, Agra, Aligarh.

Bihar: RJD led opposition parties have supported the bandh hence there were reports of road blockades across the state including Patna.

Kerala: The Left Democratic Front government has extended support to the bandh leading to the shut down of educational institutions and cut down on the availability of public transport.

Maharashtra: Partial to complete shutdown in some areas of Mumbai and Pune, while others are partially functional.

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Political Figures Have Also Weighed In On The Bandh

• BSP chief Mayawati has fully supported the protest and said that the recent Supreme Court judgment is a threat to affirmative action for SCs and STs.
• JMM leader and Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren said, “We are with our Dalit and Adivasi brothers in their struggle for justice.
• Responding to the concerns raised by the protestors, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said, “The government will not allow the rights of SCs and STs to be violated. But at the same time, the government wants the protestors to remain peaceful.
• Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Twitter: “The voices of the marginalized must be heard. We demand a comprehensive review of the reservation policy.

Throughout the day, the police are on stand-by to ensure that no incidences of violence occur while at the same time allowing protests. The result of this Bharat Bandh could possibly have an impact on the subsequent debate on reservation policies and social justice in India.