Bharat Bandh today: Why has the bandh been called and how it leaves BJP on sticky wicket  

Despite the Bharat Bandh, banks throughout the country will remain open on August 21, 2024.

In response to a recent Supreme Court ruling on SC/ST reservations, a group of Dalit and Adivasi organisations have called a nationwide strike on Wednesday. Spearheaded by the Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, the bandh call has received the backing of several political parties and SC/ST groups.

What was the SC ruling?

On August 1, a seven-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, ruled by a 6:1 majority that further sub-classification of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes by states can be permitted to ensure quota for more backward castes within these groups.  The top court ruled that states could prioritise reservations for sub-groups within SC/STs that are more disadvantaged.

Why has the bandh been called?

The SC decision to exclude the "creamy layer" from SC/ST quota has sparked controversy and led to this call for the shutdown.  According to PTI, the National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR) has released a list of demands. One of its demands is that the Centre should reject the SC verdict.  The verdict, according to the outfit, threatens the constitutional rights of SCs and STs. The organisation has called on the government to enact a new law on reservation for SCs, STs, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) that will be protected by its inclusion in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. Central and state laws included in the Ninth Schedule cannot be challenged in the courts.

Catch LIVE updates on Bharat Bandh here. 

Why may the bandh impact BJP?                

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP’s performance in constituencies reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) wasn’t too encouraging. Of the 92 seats lost, 29 were reserved for SCs and STs, showcasing a significant decline in support from these communities. Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the opposition had run a campaign across India seeking a nationwide caste census. The campaign also spoke about how the BJP would pose a threat to the Constitution if it returned with a majority. For the BJP, failure to find a strategy to silence the opposition hurt the vote bank it created among Dalits and OBCs since 2014.

The BJP made no official statement after the verdict. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met a delegation comprising BJP SC/ST MPs and was quick to assure them that no steps would be taken on the court’s observations. On Tuesday, the Centre directed the withdrawal of the UPSC advertisement for 45 jobs in the bureaucracy through lateral entry amid opposition from allies and Congress.

What is the opposition’s  stand?

According to  PTI,  the Congress unit in Jharkhand and allies Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and the Left have decided to support the strike. Jharkhand, which has a big Adivasi population, will hold its assembly polls soon.

The CPI(M) supported the judgment but reiterated its opposition to the introduction of a “creamy layer” within the SC and ST quota.

What is open and what is not?

Emergency services such as hospitals, ambulances, and medical facilities, will remain functional. There is no official announcement on the closure of banks, government offices, and educational institutions.