Bharat Bandh Live: Clashes, lathi-charge in Bihar; road, rail links hit in Odisha
Twenty-one organisations across the country have called for a Bharat Bandh on Aug 21 against the Supreme Court's Aug 1 decision on SC/ST reservation
Twenty-one organisations across the country have called for a Bharat Bandh on Wednesday (August 21) against the Supreme Court's August 1 decision on the issue of SC/ST reservation. The organisations opposed this decision and said that it will harm the basic principles of reservation.
What is the Supreme Court ruling?
In a landmark verdict on August 1, the Supreme Court held that states are constitutionally empowered to make sub-classifications within the SCs, which form a socially heterogeneous class, for granting reservation for the uplift of castes that are socially and educationally more backward among them.
The apex court, however, made it clear that states have to make sub-classification on the basis of "quantifiable and demonstrable data" of backwardness and representation in government jobs and not on "whims" and as a matter of "political expediency".
What are the demands?
The National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR) has appealed to Dalits, Adivasis, and OBCs to take part in a peaceful agitation on Wednesday. The aim of the Bharat Bandh, they said, is to demand justice and equality for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes through collective action.
NACDAOR said the August 1 ruling of the Supreme Court undermines the earlier judgement of a 9-judge bench in the Indira Sawhney case, which remains a landmark in India’s history of reservations.
The organisation wants the government to reject the SC judgement, which it says jeopardises the constitutional rights of SCs and STs.
It is calling for the enactment of a new Act of Parliament on reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs to be included in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. They feel that this will protect these provisions from judicial interference and will foster social harmony.
The organisation has also called for the immediate release of caste-based data on SC/ST/OBC representation in government services.
It is demanding the establishment of an Indian Judicial Service to recruit judicial officers and judges from all sections of society, with a target of 50 per cent of representation in the higher judiciary from the SC, ST, and OBC categories.
What will be affected by the bandh?
The organisers of the bandh have called upon business establishments to remain closed on Wednesday.
Educational institutions like schools and colleges are expected to work.
Government offices and banks will continue to operate across the country.
Public utilities like drinking water supply, electricity services, hospitals, ambulances, and pharmacies will be operational.
There is no official announcement about the operation of public transport services. Commuters can expect disruptions in certain places.
Follow our live updates below:
Live Updates
- 21 Aug 2024 8:00 AM GMT
Opposition spreading misinformation on lateral entry too: Meghwal
“Opposition is spreading unnecessary misinformation...They are also causing lateral entry controversy. The biggest example of lateral entry was Dr Manmohan Singh. But PM Modi clarified this issue too. In the letter issued yesterday, you would have seen that the lateral entry advertisements have been withdrawn until the input on social justice comes. It means that PM Modi has been continuously working toward protecting the interests of SC, ST and OBC. He will continue to do this,” said Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.
- 21 Aug 2024 7:59 AM GMT
Creamy layer not implemented in SC/ST quota: Union minister
The Supreme Court judgment has two parts – one issue was about creamy layer, the other issue was about sub-categorisation of the SC. On one of these issues, Supreme Court gave an observation. The observation is not a part of the judgment. When SC-ST MPs, who belong to BJP, felt that the Opposition was misleading people that with this decision creamy layer will now be a part of SC/ST, they gave a memorandum to the Prime Minister on 9th August. After a cabinet decision, the PM said that the creamy layer is not implemented in SC/ST and is not a part of this judgment. The second part is about direction, it is a part of the judgment. Supreme Court said that if the states want they can draw sub-categorisation and it imposed two conditions: 1) states will collect quantifiable data, 2) they can't give 100% reservation to whoever they are giving: Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal
- 21 Aug 2024 7:55 AM GMT
Bihar: Police had to use mild force against protesters: DSP, Patna
#WATCH | Bihar: Deputy SP Patna, Ashok Kumar Singh says, "It was not a peaceful protest, they took law and order in their hands...The common people could not travel and we tried to convince them (agitators). But they did not understand. We had to use mild force to move them… https://t.co/sZNviZcowi pic.twitter.com/AhFCNKSoMQ
— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2024 - 21 Aug 2024 7:50 AM GMT
MP govt directs authorities to ensure peaceful 'Bharat Bandh'
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 Bharat Bandh called by some groups over community-based reservation on Wednesday.
Veteran Congress leader Digvijaya Singh also extended support to Bharat Bandh.
In a circular issued on Tuesday night, the state home department directed the collectors and SPs of all districts besides police commissioners of Bhopal and Indore to maintain law and order situation in their respective jurisdictions during the Bharat Bandh.
- 21 Aug 2024 7:34 AM GMT
Rajasthan largely unaffected
The Bharat Bandh has evoked a mixed response in Rajasthan, with normal life remaining largely unaffected.
While essential services have been kept out of the bandh, public transport remained unaffected in the morning.
Shops and schools in some districts were closed. Mobile internet services are suspended in Bharatpur due to the bandh call. In some areas, people faced inconvenience as fewer buses were available.
Elaborate security arrangements were made across the state to maintain law and order.
Suresh Saini, general secretary of Jaipur Vyapar Mahasangh, said market associations in the city voluntarily decided to keep shops closed to avoid any inconvenience to shopkeepers and customers due to the protests.
The SC ST Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti will hold a rally in Jaipur against the August 1 Supreme Court order on the sub-classification of SCs.
The members of SC and ST communities gathered at Ram Niwas Garden to join the rally which will pass through various markets including Chaura Rasta, Johari Bazar, Tripolia Bazar and MI Road.
Many other markets in areas like Tonk Road, Bajaj Nagar and Malviya Nagar were also closed. Some shops, however, were open.
A Home Department official said police officials across districts have been instructed to ensure public safety and law and order during the bandh.
Additional police teams have been deployed to prevent any untoward incidents.
Jaipur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph issued an advisory for maintenance of law and order in all police station areas of the commissionerate.
The Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) has issued orders for safe operation of all its buses.
RSRTC Chairman and MD Shreya Guha said that in view of the Bharat Bandh, all chief managers, managing directors and traffic managers have been directed to remain present at the headquarters.
