Supreme Court ruling: SC/ST/Dalit organisations to hold Bharat Bandh

New Delhi: Protesting the Supreme Court ruling on SC and ST reservations, Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti has announced a Bharat Bandh for Wednesday. The group is protesting the top court ruling that allows states to create subcategories among SC and ST to remove those who are economically forward from reservations.

Mint reported that SC/ST groups in Rajasthan have extended support for the bandh. In the state, the police have been asked to increase deployment across all districts. Police informed that instructions had been given to its troops to ensure law and order, Times of India reported.

Rajasthan DGP told TOI that they have asked their officials to organise meetings with groups calling for bandh and market association for cooperation. As part of the bandh, various tribal and Dalit organisations in Kerala announced that they will observe hartal on Wednesday. The hartal will be from 6 am to 6 pm. Wayanad district has been exempted from hartal in the wake of natural disasters. Meanwhile, public transport and the functioning of schools, examinations, etc., in Kerala will not be affected. Ruling that states are allowed to create subcategories within the SC/ST groups, the Supreme Court said that those who really need it must get priority in reservation. As per reports, the main objective behind the Bharat bandh is to protest the top court ruling, challenge it and demand a reversal. The protesting groups state that the Supreme Court ruling is unjust.

Mint reported that western Uttar Pradesh is considered particularly sensitive, and police have been put on high alert there. Police are making larger preparations to ensure the safety of the public in the area during protests.