Bharat Bandh Live Updates: Dalit and tribal organizations have called for a ‘Bharat Bandh’ on Wednesday (August 21) to demand strong representation and protection for marginalized communities. The National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organizations (NACDAOR) has released a list of demands that include justice and equality for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC).
The organisation has taken a contrary view to the recent verdict delivered by a seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court, which, according to them, undermines the nine-judge bench verdict in the landmark Indira Sawhney case that had set the framework for reservation in India.
NACDAOR has urged the government to repeal the decision as it is a threat to the constitutional rights of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The organisation is also demanding the Parliament to pass a new law on reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs which should be protected with inclusion in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.
DGP Sahu said in an interview to the Times of India, “We have requested our officers to hold meetings with the groups initiating the shutdown and market associations to promote better cooperation.”
Senior civil and police officials held a meeting to assess the preparations for the bandh to avoid violence. All divisional commissioners, district magistrates and senior police officials attended the meeting through video conferencing and were instructed to be prepared for the bandh. The police have reportedly been instructed to deploy more personnel in the districts to avoid any untoward incident.
Emergency services, including ambulances, hospitals and medical services, will remain open. Pharmacies will also remain open and government offices, banks, schools and colleges will function normally.
