Various organizations across the country have called for a ‘Bharat Bandh’ today i.e. on 21st August against the Supreme Court’s decision on creamy layer in Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) reservation. Many opposition parties have also supported this ‘Bharat Bandh’. But different opinions are being seen on this issue even in the NDA. Chirag Paswan is in support of this bandh while Jitan Ram Manjhi has opposed it and has expressed happiness over the Supreme Court’s decision.
Jitan Ram Manjhi opposed the Bharat Bandh
Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said that he will not support this ‘Bharat Bandh’. He alleged that some affluent Dalits are spreading the illusion of ending reservation by saying false things. Special people are running this movement for their own selfish interests. Manjhi said, ‘Those who are supporting the bandh today are the same people who strengthened their position in the name of reservation earlier and left the rest of the Dalit community behind.’ Manjhi said that many people of the Dalit community are still living in extreme poverty, while some others, whom he called ‘D4’, are living a better life by taking advantage of reservation. He said that our 18 castes are different and we demand separate reservation.
Chirag Paswan supported
LJP (R) President and Union Minister Chirag Paswan has supported this Bharat Bandh. He said that we will fully support this bandh. Chirag said that as long as there is a practice like untouchability against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the society, there should not be any provision like reservation in sub-categories and creamy layer for SC/ST categories.
Hanuman Beniwal also supported
Rashtriya Loktantrik Party leader and MP from Nagaur, Rajasthan, Hanuman Beniwal has also supported this bandh. He wrote on Instagram, ‘In protest against the opinion given by the Hon’ble Supreme Court on sub-classification and creamy layer of Scheduled Castes/Tribes, the people of Scheduled Castes/Tribes of India have called for a Bharat Bandh on 21st August, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party supports this Bharat Bandh!’
Mayawati got support
BSP is also in support of Bharat Bandh. Mayawati has appealed to her workers to protest peacefully and without violence. She wrote on X- ‘BSP supports Bharat Bandh because BJP and Congress etc. want to make it ineffective through anti-reservation conspiracy.’ Whereas, Akash Anand wrote on X- ‘There is a lot of anger in SC/ST community against the Supreme Court’s decision on reservation. Our community has called for Bharat Bandh on 21st August in protest against the decision. Our society is a peace loving society. We support everyone. Our community participates in everyone’s happiness and sorrow. But, today our freedom is being attacked. On 21st August, we have to give a befitting reply to this in a peaceful manner.’
Know what is the matter
Let us tell you that Dalit-tribal organizations have called for a 14-hour Bharat Bandh on Wednesday against the Supreme Court’s decision to implement creamy layer and quota within quota in Scheduled Caste and Tribe reservation. An organization called National Confederation of Dalit and Tribal Organizations has called the Supreme Court’s decision against the constitutional rights of Dalits and tribals and has demanded the central government to cancel it.
what is the decision of the supreme court
In fact, recently the Supreme Court has given its verdict in the case related to quota within quota. The Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court ruled with a majority of 6-1 that the states have the right to create quota within quota for reservation. That is, the state governments can create sub-categories for the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe categories, so that the most needy can get priority in reservation. The state assemblies will be able to make laws regarding this.
Also read: Bharat Bandh today, know which organizations and parties are involved, what are the demands? Answers to 7 big questions
With this, the Supreme Court has overturned its old decision of 2004. However, the court also said that the basis of all categories should be appropriate. The court said that doing so is not against Article 341 of the Constitution. The court had clearly said that 100% quota cannot be given to any one caste within the SC. Apart from this, before deciding the quota of any caste included in the SC, there should be solid data of its share. A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice BR Gavai, Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Bela M Trivedi, Justice Pankaj Mithal, Justice Manoj Mishra and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma gave this decision.
Why is there protest?
This decision has become a matter of controversy across the country. Those opposing it believe that this has put a question mark on the fundamental principles of the reservation system. Many organizations have called it against the reservation policy. They say that this will have a negative impact on the existing reservation system and the concept of social justice will be weakened.
