A countrywide strike, Bharat Bandh is scheduled to be held today, in reaction to a recent Supreme Court ruling regarding the SC/ST reservations.
The protest has been organized by the Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, with significant backing from SC/ST communities, particularly in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh
Law Enforcement Prepares for Bandh
The police forces are gearing up for the Bharat Bandh. Rajasthan’s Director General Of Police, UR Sahoo, has directed the district superintendent of police to ensure order and cooperate with local organizations.
He has also mentioned that they have instructed officials to hold meetings with the groups leading to the bandh and with the market associations to promote better cooperation, as reported by Times Of India.
Police throughout Rajasthan have been instructed to boost their presence and collaborate with local SC/ST groups to maintain peaceful protests.
In Jaipur, Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph has begun engaging with groups for better cooperation. The authorities are implementing all precautionary measures to avert any kind of conflict or disturbance during the protest.
Broad support for Bandh
The Bandh was organized by around 20 Dalit and Adivasi groups, with the backing from political parties such as Rashtriya Janata Dal in Bihar and Bahujan Smaja Party in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, several left parties, and the congress party which leads the INDIA opposition bloc are also supporting the bandh.
Demands of Dalit Organisations
The National Conference of Dalit and Adivasi Organisation ( NACDAOR) has outlined demands for justice and equality for SC/ST/OBC’s.
They have opposed the recent nine-judge bench ruling by the Supreme Court and stated that it has weakened the former Indra Sawhney judgment by a five-judge bench. The Indra Sawhney judgment laid the framework for the Indian reservation system.
They called for a new act in parliament on the reservation, for better protection to be included in the ninth schedule of the Indian constitution. The act will safeguard these provisions from judicial interference.
Lastly, they have demanded the immediate release of caste-based data in government jobs for accurate representations
Delhi Markets To Remain Open
Chairman Brijesh Goyal and President Subhash Khandelwal of the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) confirmed that, after consulting with more than 100 market associations across Delhi, the city’s business community has not been engaged with the organizers of the strike.
The CTI officials reported that associations from prominent markets like Lajpat Nagar, Khari Baoli, Naya Bazaar, Sadar Bazar, Kamala Nagar and others have indicated that they have not been contacted by the Bandh organizers. Consequently, all 700 markets in Delhi and 56 industrial areas will remain open as usual.
Essential Services To Remain Uninterrupted
While the Bnadh may disrupt the commercial offices and public transportation, emergency services like ambulances will be functional, Schools. Colleges,banks, government offices, and gas stations will stay open despite the Bandh,
Essential supplies such as drinking water, medicines, and electricity will remain unaffected.
