The Supreme Court recently ordered a survey on the issue of sub-caste classification and creamy layer in the context of SC-ST reservation. Bharat Bandh has been announced on August 21 i.e. today by all SC-ST communities to protest against this verdict. At that time, this nationwide bandh had a mixed effect in Gujarat.
SC-ST Ekta Manch Aravalli district has alerted the system after announcing Bhiloda Bandh. Although the bandh has been approved in Bhiloda, the SC-ST forum has appealed to the local authorities to exclude emergency services including police, medical and fire and cooperate with ordinary citizens during the bandh. On the other hand, the announcement of Bharat Bandh has received a mixed response in Gujarat. For example, markets in Vijayanagar, Bhiloda and Danta were observed to be spontaneously closed, while markets were open in some tribal areas. In Gujarat, support has been particularly strong in tribal-dominated areas. Districts including Dahod, Panchmahal, Sabarkantha, Danta, Aravalli, Narmada, Navsari, Chhota Udepur of Gujarat have also joined this bandh. The effect of dam was also seen in Narmada district including Hadad, Danta, Mandali, Idar, Umarpada, Sabarkantha, Vyara, Songadh, Umarpada, Vijayanagar. However, here too markets were seen partially open in many areas.