Indians of all castes and tribes have joined hands in calling for a nationwide strike, ‘Bharat Bandh’, today on 21, August. The purpose of the walkout is to demand more jobs and seats in educational institutions for the marginalised communities and ensure that their Constitutional rights are protected.
The bandh has gathered pace following a recent Supreme Court decision on August 1 that allowed for deeper sub-classification of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) to provide quotas for more backward castes within these groupings. The ruling, issued by a seven-judge panel led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, has prompted outrage and alarm among Dalit and Adivasi tribes, who believe it could undermine their existing reservation privileges.
Adding to the discontent, opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, have criticised the government’s recent move to halt advertising for lateral entrance into 45 important civil service positions. Gandhi accused the government of weakening the quota rights of Other Backward Classes (OBCs), SCs, and STs, adding fire to the strike demand.
The National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR), organising the Bharat Bandh, has issued a set of demands to secure social justice and equal representation. Among their primary requests are the rejection of the Supreme Court’s recent decision and the introduction of a new central legislation exempt from judicial review under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. They also call for the immediate release of caste-based data on SC/ST/OBC employees in government services to ensure accurate representation.
NACDAOR is also pushing for the filling of all backlog vacancies in central and state government departments and public sector undertakings. Additionally, they have urged private-sector companies benefiting from government subsidies or investments to enact affirmative action policies.
Support for the strike has been extended by political parties such as the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and Rashtriya Janata Dal, along with various Left parties. While public services are expected to be affected in states governed by these parties, essential services like hospitals and ambulances will remain operational. There is no official announcement regarding the closure of banks, government offices, or educational institutions.
As the strike unfolds, Dalit and Adivasi groups have urged their communities to participate peacefully in large numbers, emphasizing the importance of maintaining public order while pressing for their demands.
