THE day-long ‘Bharat Bandh’, called by certain Dalit and Adivasi groups against the Supreme Court’s verdict on sub-classification of Scheduled Castes, evoked a mixed response in country on Wednesday. The Bandh was called by 21 organisations across the country in response to the Supreme Court’s August 1 ruling allowing States to sub-classify Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for granting quotas within these groups. The apex court’s majority verdict held that such sub-classifications are permissible to benefit more underprivileged castes within these categories. BIHAR: Police lathi-charged and used water cannons to disperse protesters who put up rail and road blockades in support of Bharat Bandh over community-based reservation. Protesters disrupted train services at Darbhanga and Buxar railway stations and blocked traffic in Patna, Hajipur, Darbhanga, Jehanabad, and Begusarai districts following which police baton-charged to quell them. In Patna, police chased away crowds who blocked traffic at Dak Bungalow Chowk.

 

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and other partners of the INDIA bloc extended their support to the bandh. CHHATTISGARH: Several shops and commercial establishments remained closed in parts of Bastar and Surguja divisions, largely inhabited by tribals, and Mohla-ManpurAmbagarh Chowki and Dhamtari districts. Shutdown evoked a mixed response in Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg, Rajnandgaon and Korba. Transport services largely remained unaffected. Schools, hospitals and other essential services were kept out of the bandh ambit. In Dantewada district headquarters,ahugemotorcycle rally was organised by members of Sarva Adivasi Samaj (SAS), an umbrella body of tribal organisations. The Opposition Congress extendedits“moral”support to the shutdown and called for addressing concerns of members of ST and SC communities. GUJARAT: Protesters blockedagoods train and roads as the daylong‘Bharat Bandh’ evoked mixed reactions across Gujarat.