Nationwide Strike Today as Dalit, Adivasi Groups Announce Bharat Bandh
New Delhi: Dalit and Adivasi organizations have called for a nationwide Bharat Bandh on Wednesday to demand greater representation for marginalized communities in jobs and education, as well as to protect their constitutional rights. The peaceful strike comes in response to a recent Supreme Court verdict on the sub-categorization of quotas for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) and the controversy over lateral entry into central civil services.
On August 1, a seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, ruled by a 6:1 majority that states could further sub-classify SCs and STs to ensure that more backward castes within these groups receive quota benefits. This decision has sparked concerns among Dalit and Adivasi communities, who believe it undermines the principles of the landmark Indira Sawhney case, which established the framework for reservations.
The National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR), which called for the Bharat Bandh, has released a list of demands, urging the government to reject the Supreme Court judgment and pass a new central act, protected from judicial review by the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. NACDAOR also demands the immediate release of caste-based data on SC/ST/OBC employees in government services to ensure accurate representation and the filling of all backlog vacancies in central and state government departments.
Political parties like the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal have extended their support to the Bharat Bandh, alongside leftist parties. While public services in states ruled by these parties may be affected, emergency services will remain operational.
NACDAOR has called on all OBC, SC, and ST groups to participate in the strike peacefully and in large numbers, emphasizing the importance of unity in advocating for social justice and equitable representation.
FOLLOW FOR MORE.
