Discussion of Bharat Bandh on Wednesday, 21 August 2024 is in full swing on social media platform X. The hashtag ‘#21_August_Bharat_Bandh’ is currently trending. 15.4 thousand posts have been posted on X with this hashtag.
The reason behind Bharat Bandh
The Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti has called for this bandh in protest against the recent decision of the Supreme Court regarding reservation for Scheduled Castes and Tribes. The Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court delivered an important verdict on August 1, 2024.
They allowed states to create sub-categories within the SC and ST groups, stating, “Those who really need it should get priority in reservation.” This decision has sparked widespread debate and calls for a Bharat Bandh.
The main objective of this Bharat Bandh is to challenge the Supreme Court’s decision on the reservation and demand its reversal. This bandh is expected to get the support of various social and political organizations. The purpose of the protest is to highlight the unjust decision of the court.
Preparations and security measures for Bharat Bandh
In view of possible violence during the bandh, top police officials held a meeting for preparation through video conferencing. All divisional commissioners, district magistrates and senior police officers attended the meeting. Principal Secretary Home and Director General of Police (DGP) chaired the meeting and directed the officials to prepare for the demonstrations to be held on August 21.
Western Uttar Pradesh has been considered particularly sensitive, due to which the police have been put on high alert there. Officials are taking extensive steps to ensure the safety of the public during the protests.
What will remain open in Bharat Bandh?
During such a shutdown, emergency services like ambulances remain operational. Hospitals and medical services also continue to function normally. However, public transport is usually closed, and private offices often close their doors, as reported by OneIndia Hindi. The campaign against keeping the creamy layer out of reservation has intensified on social media. As part of this movement, Bahujan organizations have announced to join the Bharat Bandh.
This is not the first time Bharat Bandh this year. In February 2024, farmer organizations organized a bandh on February 16 over their demands. However, it did not have much impact on most parts of India, but disruptions were seen in Punjab and Haryana due to the agitation of farmers.
The upcoming Bharat Bandh aims to draw attention to what protesters see as an unfair Supreme Court decision regarding reservation for marginalized communities, as per media reports. As preparations are gaining momentum, officials are focusing on maintaining order and ensuring public safety during demonstrations.