Mixed impact of Bharat Bandh over SC/ST reservation ruling, train and road traffic partially disrupted

THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK

New Delhi, August 21: The nationwide bandh called on Wednesday in response to the Supreme Court’s decision on the creamy layer in SC/ST reservations had a mixed impact in some states. The effects were observed in several states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

In Uttar Pradesh, the impact of the Bharat Bandh is noticeable in districts like Hathras, Hapur, and Agra, though cities such as Kanpur, Prayagraj, Noida, and Ghaziabad remain largely unaffected. In Rajasthan, major markets in Jaipur, Ajmer, and other cities are closed, with noticeably reduced traffic compared to usual days.

Dalit and tribal organizations across the country have taken to the streets today in protest against the Supreme Court’s decision to implement the creamy layer in SC and ST reservations. These organizations had announced the bandh for August 21 immediately after the ruling. The bandh has had a mixed impact.

Schools and colleges closed in several districts of Rajasthan

In Rajasthan, the administration has announced precautionary holidays in schools and colleges in several districts, including Jaipur. The bandh began at 9 a.m. and had an impact across many districts of the state.

Shops in major markets remained closed, and the suspension of roadways buses caused inconvenience to people. Jaipur’s roads also saw fewer vehicles than usual.

Activists from the organizations that called for the bandh held rallies.

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Protesters clash with security personnel in Bihar’s Jehanabad, lathi charge in Patna

The Bharat Bandh had a mixed impact in several parts of Bihar. In Jehanabad district, protesters blocked traffic on National Highway-83 (NH-83) and clashed with security personnel during the blockade.

Jehanabad Nagar Police Station Sub-Inspector Hulas Baitha informed reporters, “Five protesters attempting to block traffic near Unta Mod on NH-83 were detained.” During this time, there was also a clash between the protesters and security forces.

In Patna, the police resorted to a lathi charge on the protesters.

According to the police, protesters in Madhepura and Muzaffarpur also attempted to block traffic at several locations, but they were quickly removed from the protest sites.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and several other parties from the opposition alliance ‘INDIA’ (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) have supported the Bharat Bandh called by various Dalit and tribal organizations.

Rail and road traffic partially disrupted in Odisha

In Odisha, rail and road traffic was partially disrupted on Wednesday. The police reported that government offices, banks, commercial establishments, and educational institutions were operating normally.

In a message on Tuesday, the Home Department advised officers and employees working in the state secretariat and main departmental buildings to arrive at their offices by 9:30 a.m. Security has been heightened at the state secretariat, main departmental buildings, and other important locations in Odisha.

In Bhubaneswar and Sambalpur, protesters stopped trains, and passenger buses were not operating on various routes. Demonstrators held protests at several locations, blocking many roads, including national highways. They temporarily halted the Visakha Express at Bhubaneswar railway station.

In Sambalpur, the protesters also stopped the Sambalpur-Puri and Sambalpur-Rayagada trains at Khetrajpur station. The police removed the protesters from the tracks, allowing rail operations to resume. Reports of road blockades also came in from Cuttack, Sambalpur, Bolangir, Malkangiri, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, and other locations.

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SP and BSP support Bharat Bandh in Madhya Pradesh

The Madhya Pradesh Home Department has directed all district collectors and Superintendents of Police (SPs) in the state to take necessary steps to maintain law and order during the day-long ‘Bharat Bandh’.

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has also expressed support for the Bharat Bandh.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) have also extended their support to the Bharat Bandh.