Bharat Bandh highlights: Largely peaceful protests with sporadic incidents of violence

Union Minister of State and BJP leader BL Verma stated that those participating in the strike lacked clear motives.

He said, “Those who are doing this, even if they don’t know why they are doing so. The respect that SCs and STs have under PM Modi government and he also has made clear his stand about the reservation that no one can touch reservations, but the opposition is diverting the people.”

- ANI

Former Union Minister and BJP’s prominent tribal leader, Faggan Singh Kulaste accused the opposition of politicising the Supreme Court’s ruling about sub-classification within Scheduled Castes, saying the Centre has already clarified its stand on it.

The MP from Mandla (ST) Lok Sabha seat in Madhya Pradesh said, “The judges have given their opinion. I personally, along with 60-70 MPs, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on this issue. The PM told us that the creamy layer provision (sub-classification) will not be implemented among SCs and STs.” The Union cabinet has also decided that the “apex court’s opinion” will not be implemented, he told reporters in Bhopal.

“Despite such clarity and decision of the Government, people have called for a Bharat Bandh… They are playing politics. Congress played politics in the name of SCs and STs and Mayawati (BSP chief) is also doing the same,” Mr. Kulaste said.

- PTI

A sub-divisional officer (SDO) was accidentally hit by police personnel while managing law and order during Bharat Bandh protests over community-based reservation in Patna.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rajeev Mishra told PTI that while police were lathicharging to disperse protesters blocking traffic at Dak Bunglow Chowk, an officer inadvertently hit the Sadar-Patna SDO, who was leading the force.

The Patna District Administration later confirmed that the incident was an honest mistake and said no disciplinary action would be taken against the police officer.

- PTI

The effects of the bandh were clearly seen in regions dominated by tribal and Dalit communities in districts like Chhota Udepur, Narmada, Surendranagra, Sabarkantha, and Aravalli where markets in cities and semi-urban areas remained closed.

Protesters blocked a goods train in Wadhwan taluka of Surendranagar district and shouted slogans, with the police reaching the site to disperse the crowd.

Police managed to persuade the protesters to allow the train to ply. “The train moved after a forced halt of around an hour and a half and went towards Bhavnagar,” officials said.

Similarly, the impact of the bandh call was seen in the towns of Idar and Vijaynagar in the Sabarkantha district, where markets, schools and colleges remained closed, with the authorities ordering heavy police deployments to maintain law and order.

- PTI

Activists of various political and social outfits, including the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Bhim Army, and Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti Sangathan (JAYAS), stage a protest at Bhopal’s Ambedkar Circle, in support of the ‘Bharat Bandh’. 

While the call for a shut down attracted a mild impact in cities like Bhopal and Indore, a stronger impact was witnessed in tribal belts of Madhya Pradesh as well as in Dalit-dominated areas. In tribal-dominated districts like Pandhurna and Mandla markets and establishments were closed, and large rallies were organised in districts like Morena and Dalit-dominated Bhind.

The Bharat Bandh had little impact on normal life in Uttar Pradesh, even as Dalit groups and political parties held demonstrations and marches in parts of the state.

Shops were open and it was business as usual in large parts of the state. Security was tightened in view of the day-long bandh called by some Dalit and Adivasi groups against a recent Supreme Court order on reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs).

- PTI

A tight police arrangements have been made in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior district ahead of a protest rally called by Bahujan Samaj Party and Bhim Sena amid the ongoing protest against the Supreme Court’s recent judgement on reservations.

The district administration and police are on alert mode, police personnel are taking rounds, barricades have been put up and drone cameras are active for the security arrangement in the district.

Gwalior Superintendent of Police (SP) Dharmaveer Singh told ANI, “In view of the call for ‘Bharat Bandh’ by various organisations, Gwalior police are continuously patrolling here since 6 a.m. on Wednesday. Over 150 fixed barricades were put up for the security and all the police officials, including CSP and Additional SP are taking rounds.”

- ANI

The day-long Bharat Bandh had no impact in Assam.

Schools, offices and business establishments functioned normally with almost full attendance across the state.

Vehicular traffic was normal and long-distance buses operated according to their schedules. There were no disruptions to railway services, with all trains running on time.

- PTI

The Bharat Bandh called by some groups against a recent Supreme Court order on reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs) evoked a mixed response in Rajasthan, with normal life remaining largely unaffected.

While essential services have been kept out of the bandh, public transport remained unaffected in the morning.

Shops and schools in some districts were closed. Mobile internet services are suspended in Bharatpur due to the bandh call. In some areas, people faced inconvenience as fewer roadways buses were available.

Elaborate security arrangements were made across the state to maintain law and order.

Suresh Saini, general secretary of Jaipur Vyapar Mahasangh, said market associations in the city voluntarily decided to keep shops closed to avoid any inconvenience to shopkeepers and customers due to the protests.

- PTI

In Alappuzha, the police detained Welfare Party workers who marched to express solidarity with the national lockdown. Among those arrested was the organisation’s district general secretary, P T Vasanthakumar. In Pathanamthitta, Dalit organisations marched in support of the bandh.

In Kasargode, the police detained Sadhujana Parishad workers for holding a protest march against the Supreme Court’s judgement on Scheduled Caste reservations. 

The police identified the detained leaders as the organisation’s State president, Anish Payyanoor; secretary, Raghavan; Kannur district president, Harish Payyanoor; and Kasargode district president, Binu Chemeeni. 

The Bharath Bandh, called by the National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR), has been largely peaceful in Kerala, except for a few arrests and demonstrations that snarled traffic in different parts of the State. So far, no forcible closure of shops or other incidents of violence have been reported. 

The Bharat Bandh called by the organisations of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes evoked no response in Kochi. No untoward incidents were reported in the district, according to police officials.

Vehicular traffic was briefly disrupted in parts of Bihar, as protestors put up blockades in support of the Bharat Bandh called by some groups over community-based reservation.

In Jehanabad district, agitators clashed with security personnel when they tried to block movement of traffic on National Highway-83, police said.

“Five protestors were detained as they tried to disrupt traffic movement on NH-83 near Unta Chowk. They were later removed from the spot and normality was restored,” said Hulas Baitha, Sub-Inspector, Town police station.

In Madhepura and Muzaffarpur, too, protestors attempted to block movement of traffic at several places, but security forces promptly dispersed them, police said.

Meanwhile, recruitment exams were underway for the post of constables in Bihar Police, Bihar Special Armed Police and other units in several districts on Wednesday. The state government had earlier instructed police to ensure the smooth transportation of aspirants to the test centres.

- PTI

The Bahujan Samaj Party extended support to the day-long Bharat Bandh called by some Dalit and Adivasi groups to protest against the Supreme Court’s recent verdict on the sub-classification of Scheduled Castes (SCs).

The party also accused the BJP and the Congress of colluding to end reservation. It said these parties and others should understand the necessity of reservation and not play with it.

“BSP supports the Bharat Bandh because there is anger and resentment against the Supreme Court’s August 1 decision regarding the sub-classification of SC/ST and the creamy layer among them due to the conspiracy against reservation by parties like BJP and Congress and their collusion to make it ineffective and eventually end it,” BSP president Mayawati said in a post in Hindi on X.

- PTI

The day-long Bharat Bandh evoked a mixed reaction in Jharkhand on Wednesday, as several public buses stayed off the roads and schools remained closed.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren has also cancelled his visit to Palamu on Wednesday due to the strike, an official said.

The state’s ruling alliance – Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal – have extended support to the bandh. The Left parties, too, have backed the strike.

In some parts of the state, workers of the alliance were seen taking to the streets in support of the bandh.

Schools remain closed in Ranchi and most parts of the state, while several long-route public buses were seen parked at bus stands, inconveniencing commuters.

- PTI

The Madhya Pradesh home department has directed the collectors and superintendents of police (SPs) of all districts in the state to take necessary steps to maintain law and order situation during the day-long Bharat Bandh.

In a circular issued on Tuesday night, the state home department directed the collectors and SPs of all districts besides police commissioners of Bhopal and Indore to maintain law and order situation in their respective jurisdictions during the Bharat Bandh.

- PTI

Rajasthan’s Parliamentary Affairs Minister and Law Minister Jogaram Patel appealed to the people to hold a peaceful ‘Bharat Bandh’.Mr. Patel said Rajasthan will follow the decision taken by the Supreme Court and the decision taken by the Central Government and no one should face any problem.

“Rajasthan will follow the decision taken by the Supreme Court and the decision taken by the Central Government. BJP and our government will take a decision keeping in mind the interests of all reserved classes. As far as Bharat Bandh is concerned, I appeal to the people to put forward their point but people should not be troubled, the traffic system should remain smooth, no one should face any problems and they should put forward their point in a peaceful manner,” the Rajasthan Minister said.

Most of the markets and business establishments were closed in Jaipur due to the call ‘Bharat Bandh’ by the SC/ST category across the country in protest against the Supreme Court’s decision on the creamy layer and sub-classification in SC/ST reservation.

Police and security arrangements were also tightened in the city, additional police force was deployed at major intersections and markets.

- ANI

The day-long Bharat bandh partially affected rail and road communications in Odisha.

Government offices, banks, business establishments and educational institutions are functioning normally, police said.

The Home department in a note on Tuesday, “ .... advised officers and employees of various departments working in the state secretariat and heads of department building to reach office by 9.30 a.m.” 

Security has been beefed up in the state secretariat, heads of department building and other important places in the state.

- PTI

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday (August 21) backed the day-long Bharat Bandh called by some groups over community-based reservation, noting that “public movements” put a check on “unbridled government”.

“The mass movement to protect reservation is a positive effort. It will instill new consciousness among the exploited and deprived and will prove to be a shield of people’s power against any kind of tampering with reservation. Peaceful movement is a democratic right,” he posted on X in Hindi.