Nationwide Protest Against SC/ST Reservation Ruling

There’s a big protest brewing across India! The Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti has called for a Bharat Bandh on Wednesday, August 21, in response to a recent Supreme Court ruling about reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).

This ruling has sparked a major outcry, especially among SC and ST communities in Rajasthan, who are rallying support for the protest. The government is already taking steps to ensure that everything remains calm and orderly during the bandh.

The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, decided that states can create sub-groups within SCs and STs. This means states can allocate quotas based on how much discrimination different groups have faced. The idea is to help those who need it the most, but not everyone agrees with this approach.

Critics say this change weakens the principles of the reservation system and are demanding that the ruling be overturned. They firmly believe that dividing these communities could create further divisions among them.

The Bharat Bandh call has encouraged many businesses to shut down in solidarity, but it’s uncertain how many will actually comply. Reports from the Times of India suggest that market committees haven’t made any official announcements yet.

Services like public transport might be disrupted, but essential services like ambulances will continue to operate. It’s good to know that schools, banks, and government offices will remain open during the protest, ensuring that some normalcy is maintained.

It’s a day that could see a lot of activity, as the support for this Bharat Bandh is expected to reverberate throughout the country, particularly around public transportation.