Rallies and protest march taken out in all the districts
JAIPUR, Aug 21: The Bharat Bandh called by some groups against a recent Supreme Court order on reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs) evoked a mixed response in Rajasthan where markets remained closed and public transport services were partially affected.
“Barring two-three minor incidents that took place at different places, the bandh was peaceful across the state,” Director-General of Police (DGP) U R Sahoo said.
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In the last 10 days, police officials held multiple meetings at various levels with market and transport associations to ensure the bandh was observed peacefully and law and order situation remained under control, DGP Sahoo said.
Many markets across the state remained closed in view of the bandh call.
In Jaipur, the SC ST Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti held a rally against the August 1 Supreme Court order on the sub-classification of SCs. The rally started from Ram Niwas Garden and passed through different walled markets in the city before culminating at the garden.
“During the rally, the markets remained closed and opened after 3 pm. The bandh was peaceful,” Suresh Saini, general secretary of Jaipur Vyapar Mahasangh, said.
He said market associations in the city voluntarily decided to keep shops closed to avoid any inconvenience to shopkeepers and customers due to the protests.
While essential services were kept out of the bandh, public transport remained unaffected in the morning.
Later, the movement of city buses in Jaipur was stopped.
Elaborate security arrangements were made across the state to maintain law and order.
Many other markets in areas like Tonk Road, Bajaj Nagar, Jhotwara, Khatipura and Malviya Nagar were also closed.
Some shops, however, were open.
A Home Department official said police officials across districts have been instructed to ensure public safety and law and order during the bandh.
Additional police teams were deployed to prevent any untoward incidents.
Jaipur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph issued an advisory for maintenance of law and order in all police station areas of the commissionerate.
Rallies and protest march were taken out in all the districts.
The Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) has issued orders for safe operation of all its buses.
RSRTC Chairman and MD Sreya Guha said that in view of the Bharat Bandh, all chief managers, managing directors and traffic managers have been directed to remain present at the headquarters.
Twenty-one organisations across the country have called for the Bharat Bandh against the Supreme Court order, which they have said will harm the basic principles of reservation.
The August 1 Supreme Court order held that states are constitutionally empowered to make sub-classifications within SCs, which form a socially heterogeneous class, for granting reservation for the uplift of castes that are socially and educationally more backward among them. (PTI)
