Bharat Bandh gets widespread support of Dalits, Adivasis, Leftists

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal on Tuesday (August 20) declared their support for the Bharat Bandh scheduled for Wednesday (August 21), which was organised by various groups in reaction to the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on Scheduled Caste (SC) reservations.

The strike has also received backing from the Left parties, according to a PTI report.

Dalit and Adivasi organisations have called for a 'Bharat Bandh' on Wednesday, demanding enhanced representation and protection for 'marginalised' communities.

The National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR) has opposed a recent Supreme Court judgment by a seven-judge bench, arguing that it contradicts the earlier ruling by a nine-judge bench in the Indira Sawhney case, which laid the foundation for the reservation system in India.

The Bahujan Samaj Party announced its support for the Bharat Bandh too, criticising the BJP and Congress for allegedly conspiring to undermine the reservation system. The party emphasised that all political parties should recognise the importance of reservations and avoid tampering with them.

The JMM has instructed its leaders, district presidents, secretaries and district coordinators to actively participate in the 14-hour nationwide strike and show their support.