The Bharat Bandh called by several Dalit and Adivasi groups on Wednesday to protest the Supreme Court’s recent verdict on the sub-classification of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) elicited varied reactions across the country. While some regions saw significant disruptions, others remained largely unaffected, with the bandh receiving mixed support from different political and social organisations.
In Bihar, the bandh briefly disrupted vehicular traffic in some districts. While protesters disrupted train movement at Darbhanga and Buxar railway stations, police resorted to lathi-charge of protestors, who blocked movements of traffic on roads, including some national highways at several locations in Patna, Hajipur, Darbhanga, Jehanabad and Begusarai districts.
Independent Lok Sabha MP from Purnea, Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav and his supporters also came on the streets of Patna and other places in response to a Supreme Court ruling that allows sub-categorization within SC/ST reservations.
Talking to reporters in Purnea, Yadav said, "The NDA government at the Centre is against reservation to the SC/ST and other extremely backward classes. The Centre wants to snatch reservations given to SC/ST and other extremely backward classes."
Meanwhile, recruitment exams for police constables continued as scheduled, with the state government ensuring smooth transportation for candidates.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and other partners of the INDIA bloc have extended their support to the bandh.
In Jharkhand, the bandh led to partial disruptions as public buses stayed off the roads and schools remained closed in several areas, including the state capital, Ranchi.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren cancelled his visit to Palamu due to the strike.
The state’s ruling alliance—comprising the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)—backed the bandh, along with Left parties. Despite the support, the impact was uneven across the state, with some parts witnessing protests while others continued business as usual. Security was heightened at key locations to prevent any untoward incidents.
In UP, the bandh failed to have a large impact on the normal life even though Dalit groups and political parties held protest marches in parts of the state. The Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) extended their support to the bandh.
Security remained tight across the state while shops were open and business went on as usual.
However, some parts of the state did witness major disruptions.
Protests held by BSP workers disrupted traffic and business in Lucknow, Prayagraj and Agra. Protesters climbed atop the gate of the collectorate in Agra and raised slogans. They also tried to shut shops in the city. The protesters also presented a memorandum to the district magistrate. Protesters in several parts of the state were met with lathi-charge by the police.
The Bhim Army also held protests, mainly in pockets of western Uttar Pradesh.
"Today's mass movement is a clear message to central and state governments that now the Bahujan Samaj will not allow the conspiracy of divide and rule to succeed," Azad Samaj Party (Kanshiram) president and Lok Sabha MP from Nagina Chandra Shekhar Aazad said in a post on X.
"If the government is unable to stop our peaceful constitutional movement, then it is now trying to crush the movement by beating our Bahujan Samaj with sticks. I strongly condemn this lathi charge," he said in another post condemning the lathi-charge on protesters.
In Madhya Pradesh, the state home department had issued directives to district authorities to ensure law and order during the bandh. Veteran Congress leader Digvijaya Singh extended his support to the bandh, voicing concerns over the Supreme Court’s decision.
However, the overall impact of the bandh in the state remained minimal, with authorities successfully managing to keep disruptions in check.
Odisha witnessed partial disruptions in rail and road services. Agitators detained trains at Bhubaneswar and Sambalpur, while passenger buses refrained from operating on several routes. Despite these interruptions, government offices, banks, and educational institutions functioned normally.
Security was beefed up across the state, particularly in the secretariat and other important government buildings.
In Rajasthan, while some districts observed near-total shutdowns, others saw only partial impact, with essential services continuing largely uninterrupted. The SC ST Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti's rally in Jaipur has drawn significant attention, as community members express their discontent with the ruling, fearing it could weaken the foundational principles of reservation.
Despite the bandh's peaceful nature so far, authorities remain vigilant, ensuring that public safety and order are maintained throughout the day.
The Bharat Bandh was called by 21 organisations across the country in response to the Supreme Court's August 1 decision, which empowered states to make sub-classifications within SCs and STs for granting reservations.
The protesting groups argue that the verdict undermines the basic principles of reservation and could potentially harm the marginalized communities.
While some states and regions experienced significant disruptions, others saw minimal impact. The varied response to the bandh underscores the differing levels of support and concern regarding the Supreme Court’s ruling on community-based reservations.
(With inputs from PTI)
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