New Delhi: Police in Patna lathi-charged protesters and deployed water cannons amid a 'Bharat bandh' to protest the Supreme Court's 'quota within a quota' decision about reservations in state jobs and colleges for SC and ST candidates. The strike was called for by two dozen Dalit and Adivasi groups - including the Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti - and was marked, with varying degrees of intensity, in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and other states on Wednesday.
The bandh was also backed by some political parties, including Bihar's Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Bahujan Samaj Party in Madhya Pradesh. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, various Left parties, and the Congress, which heads the INDIA bloc (of which the JMM and RJD are members) voiced support.
Significantly, Union Minister Chirag Paswan, whose Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is an ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP, has offered "moral support" to the protesters.
"I and my party morally support the Bharat Bandh... in a peaceful manner... against the Supreme Court's SC-ST reservation decision. It is our duty to become the voice of the exploited and deprived," he posted in a detailed statement on X, in which he also recalled a Union Cabinet decision that "reservation provisions will remain as Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar made... there will be no tampering..."
Bharat Bandh Bihar News
There were clashes between protesters and the police in Patna; in a video posted on X by news agency ANI cops can be seen lathi charging and assaulting protesters on nearly-empty streets.
Police also chased away crowds that blocked traffic at Dak Bungalow Chowk. "No one was injured in the incident. The situation is under control now," Senior Superintendent Rajeev Mishra said.
Ashok Kumar Singh, Deputy Superintendent with police int he state capital, said, "It was not peaceful... they (the protesters) took law and order into their hands...People could not travel and we tried to convince them, but they did not understand. We had to use mild force to move them back..."
The clashes were condemned by the RJD's Tejashwi Yadav. The former Deputy Chief Minister posted on X, "On instructions of Nitish (Chief Minister Nitish Kumar), police lathi-charge Dalits but give criminals a free hand... Have you ever seen Nitish Kumar's police lathi-charging criminals?"
Elsewhere in Patna travellers were affected after protesters blocked tracks leading to delays for several trains, including the Darbhanga-New Delhi Sampark Kranti Superfast Express.
Members of the Bhim Army, holding posters and banners, even climbed on the train claiming a "conspiracy" to deprive SC and STs of rights guaranteed to them by the Constitution.
In Bihar's Jehanabad, agitators blocked National Highway 83 - a crucial route that connects Patna to Gaya, disrupting normal life across several cities, including the state capital. Many were forced to walk long distances to reach their destination due to scarcity of public transport.
Many private schools in Patna remained closed. Some schools, which chose to remain open, had to deal with suspended bus services, adding to challenges for parents and students.
Rajesh Ranjan, aka Pappu Yadav, an independent MP, led demonstrations criticising the centre. He claimed the government "is against reservation for SC/ST and other extremely backward classes".
Bharat Bandh UP, Jharkhand Update
The bandh had no real impact in UP, even as Dalit groups and opposition parties protested in parts of the state. Cops were are on alert, including in Noida, which is adjacent to national capital Delhi.
Across UP shops remained open and it was business as usual, although security was tightened in view of the bandh that was backed by both Mayawati's BSP and Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party.
There were, though, reports of traffic affected in Lucknow after a crowd of BSP workers and supporters gathered at Ambedkar Chowk, in the heart of the city, for a demonstration.
In Prayagraj, Rapid Action Force personnel in riot gear were deployed to maintain order.
In Agra, meanwhile, BSP workers traffic and also tried to shut shops in the city.
In Kanpur some shops near the BSP's office were closed but public buses plied as usual.
UP top cop Prashant Kumar said, "The situation is under control in UP and no untoward incident has been reported... everyone has assured is there will be no disturbance of any kind... We want to assure the people of the state that law and order will not be allowed to deteriorate under any circumstances..."
In Jharkhand, protesters burned tires to mark their anger.
Bharat Bandh In Rajasthan
Educational institutions in seven districts in Rajasthan - Jaipur, Alwar, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, Deeg, Jaisalmer, and Bharatpur - were shut for the day, while exams in Kota were postponed.
Congress leader Tika Ram Jully, Rajasthan's Leader of the Opposition, has accused the ruling BJP of trying to "weaken" the reservation system.
Bharat Bandh Madhya Pradesh
Strict arrangements - including deployment of drones - have been made in Gwalior district ahead of a rally called for by the BSP and Bhim Sena. Senior cop Dharmaveer Singh said, "In view of the 'Bharat Bandh' police (have been) patrolling here 6 am (and) over 150 barricades were put up..."
Mr Singh said the protest would see a march by the political parties and include submission of a memorandum by them., after which the markets and shops could re-open. "There isn't any call for market 'bandh'. If anyone forcibly tries to close the market then action will be taken," he said.
No Impact In Guwahati
The bandh had no impact in Assam, where schools, offices, and business establishments functioned, with almost full attendance, across the state. Vehicular traffic was normal and long-distance buses operated according to their schedules. There were also no disruptions to railway services.
What Is Bharat Bandh About?
Seen as one of the groups leading this protest, the National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations, or NACDAOR, has demanded "justice and equity for SCs, STs, and OBCs", in the light of a verdict that protesters believe runs counter to the landmark Indira Sawhney case.
The 1992 case had established the framework for reservations in India.
READ | "Scheduled Castes Socially Heterogenous Class": Top Court's Quota Order
On August 1, a seven-judge bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud held, by a 6:1 majority, that states are empowered to make sub-classifications within SCs and STs to grant smaller quotas within the larger reservation for reserved categories to uplift the more underprivileged sections. "Historical and empirical evidence demonstrates SCs are a socially heterogenous class," the Chief Justice said.
READ | "Policy To Identify Creamy Layer Must": Big Remark In Quota Ruling
The NACDAOR has urged the government to reject the Supreme Court's judgment, arguing it threatens SCs and STs' constitutional rights. It is also calling for a new law to guarantee reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs by including grant of such quotas in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.
READ | On Top Court's SC/ST Sub-Classification Order, BJP Ally's Big Declaration
The Supreme Court's big order sparked a predictable row and some eyebrow-raising comments, including one by Chirag Paswan, who said then the basis for classification of SCs is 'untouchability' and that this had not been mentioned by the court. He said his party would seek a review.
With input from agencies
NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.