New Delhi: The Bharat Bandh on Wednesday, August 21, called by Dalit and Adivasi organizations demanding stronger representation and protection for marginalized communities, has largely been peaceful with only a few isolated incidents of violence.
Supporting the bandh, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) have backed the protest against a recent Supreme Court verdict on Scheduled Caste (SC) reservations. The National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR) has opposed the Supreme Court’s judgment by a seven-judge bench, arguing it undermines the earlier nine-judge bench ruling in the landmark Indira Sawhney case that established the framework for reservations in India.
In Bhopal, Ambedkar Circle saw protests by activists from various political and social outfits, including the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Bhim Army, and Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti Sangathan (JAYAS). The bandh had a mild impact in cities like Bhopal and Indore but was more significant in tribal areas of Madhya Pradesh. Markets and establishments in tribal-dominated districts like Pandhurna and Mandla were closed, and large rallies took place in Morena and Dalit-majority Bhind.
In Uttar Pradesh, the Bharat Bandh had minimal effect on daily life. Despite demonstrations and marches by Dalit groups and political parties, normal activities continued, with shops remaining open. Security measures were heightened to ensure peace during the bandh, which was organized by some Dalit and Adivasi groups in response to the Supreme Court’s reservation ruling for Scheduled Castes (SCs).
