Bharat Bandh Today: A day-long Bharat Bandh has been called by some groups over community-based reservation. Dalit and Adivasi organisations have called for a 'Bharat Bandh' today (August 21) over their demand for stronger representation and protection for marginalised communities.
The 'Bandh' has been called to protest against the Supreme Court's recent verdict on the sub-classification of Scheduled Castes (SCs). Amid the call for Bharat Bandh, people staged protests in several states across the country including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha.
As the protest against the apex court's judgement gathered pace, people were seen facing issues due to disruption in vehicular traffic and transport services.
Vehicular traffic was briefly disrupted, and railway tracks were blocked in parts of Bihar on Wednesday as protestors put up blockades in support of the Bharat Bandh called by some groups over community-based reservations.
The 'Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti' are observing a day-long Bharat Bandh today to protest the Supreme Court's recent judgement on reservations. Visuals surfaced from parts of Bihar where protestors were seen blocking railway tracks in Arrah.
Amid the call for Bharat Bandh, scuffle broke out between bandh supporters and Police in Bihar's Jehanabad.
The supporters of Bandh blocked the NH 83 in Unta. In Jehanabad district, agitators clashed with security personnel when they tried to block movement of traffic on National Highway-83, police said. “Five protestors were detained as they tried to disrupt traffic movement on NH-83 near Unta Chowk. They were later removed from the spot and normality was restored,” said Hulas Baitha, Sub-Inspector, Town police station.
People were seen facing difficulty as private bus services remained suspended following the call of Bharat Bandh. Visuals also surfaced from Ranchi.
Amid the call for Bandh, visuals surfaced from several parts of Bihar, including the state's capital, Patna.
Bharat Bandh Today: Security Beefed Up In Odisha, Schools Shut In Parts Of Rajasthan
As far as Odisha is concerned, the day-long Bharat bandh partially affected rail and road communications in Odisha on Wednesday. Government offices, banks, business establishments and educational institutions are functioning normally, police said.
The Home department in a note on Tuesday, " .... advised officers and employees of various departments working in the state secretariat and heads of department building to reach office by 9.30 am," as quoted by news agency PTI. Security has been beefed up in the state secretariat, heads of department building and other important places in the state.
The agitators detained trains at Bhubaneswar and Sambalpur while passenger buses did not operate on different routes. The protestors also staged demonstrations in different places and blocked several roads including national highways.
Meanwhile in Rajasthan, the Bharat Bandh evoked a mixed response with normal life remaining largely unaffected. While essential services have been kept out of the bandh, public transport remained unaffected in the morning.
According to PTI, shops and schools in some districts were closed. Mobile internet services are suspended in Bharatpur due to the bandh call. In some areas, people faced inconvenience as fewer roadways buses were available. Elaborate security arrangements were made across the state to maintain law and order.