Bharat Bandh Minimal Effect in Punjab and Haryana
Bharat Bandh was called by various Dalit and tribal groups on Wednesday in response to the Supreme Court’s recent judgment on the sub-categorization of Scheduled Castes (SC). Despite the possibility of widespread disruption, the impact of the bandh in the states of Punjab and Haryana was minimal. Public life was largely unaffected with essential services continuing as normal, public transport operating normally, and shops and other commercial establishments remaining open.
In both Punjab and Haryana, security arrangements have been stepped up by local authorities to ensure the maintenance of law and order. Markets and business establishments remained open as usual in Phagwara, a city in Punjab, although some educational institutions chose to close as a precaution. Similarly, in Ludhiana, another big city of Punjab, shops, schools and commercial establishments functioned as usual throughout the day.
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)-led Bharat Bandh call did not find much resonance in Jalandhar, a city with a substantial Dalit population. BSP workers staged protests at three places – Jalandhar-Pathankot Chowk, Buta Mandi and Rama Mandi, but the protests were peaceful and did not disrupt daily life. Heavy rains in parts of Jalandhar also contributed to the low turnout of protesters. In other parts of Doaba region including Kapurthala and Nawanshahr, no significant impact of the bandh was seen.
In Haryana, Dalit activists took to the streets in cities like Rohtak, protesting the Supreme Court’s recent decision to create a “quota within a quota” by taking out the creamy layer of SC/ST reservations. Despite the protests, daily life in Haryana remained largely unaffected. Shops, schools and other businesses continued their operations without any interruption.
In Karnal, protesters including members of the Bhim Army gathered at Valmiki Chowk and handed over a demand letter to the Deputy Commissioner. Similar demonstrations took place in Ambala city, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra and other districts, where peaceful demonstrations were held under the watch of heavy police force.
The Supreme Court judgment issued on August 1 upheld that states have the constitutional right to create sub-categories within the Scheduled Castes, which are recognized as socially diverse groups. The purpose of this decision is to enable more concentrated reservation for the socially and educationally backward castes in the Scheduled Castes. The decision has sparked a debate among various Dalit organizations, with some supporting the court’s decision while others like the BSP have strongly opposed it and demanded its withdrawal.
The relatively low response to Bharat Bandh in Punjab and Haryana reflects the complexities and divergent views of Dalit and tribal communities regarding the Supreme Court’s decision. While some factions see the decision as a necessary step to ensure equal distribution of resources among all sub-castes within the SC category, others see it as a divisive move that could potentially undermine the overall struggle for social justice. can weaken at
Overall, the day-long bandh did not cause significant disruption in the region, and the protests that did take place were peaceful, reflecting a broader trend of non-violent expression of dissent. The situation was closely monitored by the police, who maintained a heavy presence to prevent any untoward incident.
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