According to officials, most shops, businesses, schools, and educational institutions in punjab and haryana remained open on thursday.
Chandigarh: minimal impact of ‘bharat bandh’ in punjab and haryana
The ‘bharat bandh’ called by several upper-caste groups to protest the recent parliamentary amendment overturning a supreme court ruling on the scheduled caste/scheduled tribe (prevention of atrocities) act saw limited engagement in punjab and largely fizzled out in neighboring haryana. The bandh, organized in response to the amendment which sought to overturn a supreme court judgment, aimed to express dissent against what these groups perceived as unjust changes to the law.
Impact in punjab
In punjab, the bandh’s impact was notably subdued. On thursday, the majority of shops, business establishments, schools, and educational institutions across the state remained open. The call for the bandh had its strongest effect in phagwara, a town that witnessed a complete shutdown for the day. In phagwara, activists from the ‘general samaj manch,’ a group opposing the amendment, conducted a peaceful dharna (protest sit-in) at gandhi chowk in the morning. This led to a significant disruption in daily activities, with markets, commercial establishments, schools, colleges, and even chemist shops closing their doors.
The impact on public services was also evident. Breakfast eateries, which typically serve early morning snacks and meals, remained closed, and push-cart vendors selling vegetables and fruits stayed off the streets. Public transport, including buses, continued to operate in phagwara but with a noticeably reduced number of passengers. Despite these disruptions, officials reported that the overall response in punjab was restrained compared to the anticipated scale of the bandh.
Protest details and reactions
The general samaj manch’s protest was largely peaceful. Girish sharma, the general secretary of the manch, labeled the parliamentary amendment as a “black law,” arguing that it was necessary to repeal the amendment to protect the interests of general categories. In response to the bandh, security measures were ramped up in phagwara to maintain law and order. Kapurthala senior superintendent of police (ssp) satinder singh reported that 400 officers, including commandos, were deployed in the area. The increased security presence was aimed at ensuring the protest remained orderly and preventing any potential unrest. Fortunately, the bandh concluded without any major incidents or disturbances.
In ludhiana, another significant city in punjab, a group of youth staged a protest in dhandri kalan. During this demonstration, they burned an effigy of the central government to express their dissatisfaction with the amendment. Despite this act of protest, the police confirmed that there were no major disturbances reported in the state.
Haryana’s response
In neighboring haryana, the bandh had a minimal effect. The response in haryana was significantly less pronounced compared to punjab. The reasons for this disparity could be attributed to varying levels of support for the bandh among different regions, as well as differing local sentiments and political climates.
Background on the amendment
The parliamentary amendment that sparked the ‘bharat bandh’ was a response to a supreme court ruling aimed at preventing misuse of the scheduled caste/scheduled tribe (prevention of atrocities) act. On march 20, the supreme court had ruled that a preliminary inquiry into cases under the act should be conducted by a deputy superintendent of police. This measure was intended to ensure that allegations were not frivolous and to protect individuals from false accusations. Additionally, the court had ruled that government officials could not be prosecuted based solely on allegations under the act without prior sanction from the appointing authority.
The amendment was perceived by some groups as an attempt to dilute the protections provided by the act, leading to widespread calls for a bandh from those who felt that the changes undermined the law’s effectiveness in protecting marginalized communities. The controversy surrounding this amendment reflects broader tensions regarding social justice and the protection of vulnerable groups in india.
In summary, while the ‘bharat bandh’ saw some localized disruptions in phagwara and other parts of punjab, its overall impact was limited, and the response in haryana was minimal. The protest highlighted ongoing debates about the balance between protecting individuals from false accusations and safeguarding the rights of marginalized communities under the scheduled caste/scheduled tribe (prevention of atrocities) act.
