Bharat Bandh Shakes India: Agra on High Alert, Protests Erupt Nationwide

On August 21, 2024, Dalit and Adivasi organizations called for a nationwide Bharat Bandh to demand greater representation in jobs and education, and protection of their constitutional rights. This strike, led by the National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR), follows the recent Supreme Court ruling on the sub-categorization of quotas for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), and the controversy over lateral entry into central civil services.

Protests have sprung up across the country, with supporters carrying banners of BR Ambedkar, symbolizing the fight for social justice. In Bihar, Bhim Sena members blocked roads in Sheikhpura and Jehanabad, while the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) lent its support to the bandh. In Ranchi, private bus services were suspended, adding to the disruption.

Agra police remain on high alert as protesters gathered in the Dhanoli area, urging shopkeepers to close their businesses. The Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav hailed the bandh as a mass movement to safeguard reservation rights, emphasizing its potential to spark a new consciousness among marginalized communities.

Meanwhile, the Union government clarified it has no plans to implement the Supreme Court’s verdict on applying creamy layer provisions to SC/ST reservations. Minister Vaishnaw affirmed the NDA government’s commitment to Ambedkar’s Constitution, rejecting the notion of a creamy layer within reservations. The Bharat Bandh serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for equality and justice in India.