BL Verma Criticizes Bharat Bandh Over Supreme Court’s SC/ST Reservation Ruling
Union Minister of State and BJP leader BL Verma criticized the opposition for organizing a nationwide strike, ‘Bharat Bandh,’ in response to a recent Supreme Court ruling on SC/ST reservations. Verma stated that the protesters lacked clear motives. He said, “Those who are doing this, even they don’t know why they are doing so. The respect that SCs and STs have under PM Modi govt and he also has made clear his stand about the reservation that no one can touch reservations, but the opposition is diverting the people.”
BJP MP Dinesh Sharma also questioned the opposition’s adherence to the constitution. He said, “Those who are talking about Bharat Bandh, I want to ask them if they follow Babasaheb Ambedkar’s constitution or not. When the SC decision came, the government has made its stand clear.”
The strike, led by the Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, saw protests in various states. In Rajasthan’s Bikaner district, SC/ST community members formed groups to monitor the shutdown, while police kept a close watch to prevent any incidents. In Jharkhand’s capital city, Ranchi, roads were blocked, and tyres were burned by bandh supporters. In Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior district, tight police arrangements were made ahead of a protest rally called by the Bahujan Samaj Party and Bhim Sena.
The Supreme Court’s ruling on August 1 allowed states to sub-classify SCs and STs for reservations, stating that adequacy must be based on effective representation. The ruling was made by a majority judgement of 6:1, with six separate opinions delivered in the case.
Doubts Revealed
BL Verma -: BL Verma is a Union Minister in India. A Union Minister is a member of the central government who is in charge of a specific department or ministry.
Bharat Bandh -: Bharat Bandh means a nationwide strike in India. It is a form of protest where people stop working and businesses close to show their disagreement with something.
Supreme Court -: The Supreme Court is the highest court in India. It makes important decisions on laws and can overrule other courts.
SC/ST reservations -: SC/ST reservations are special seats or opportunities reserved for people from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in jobs and education. This is to help them get equal chances.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is one of the major political parties in India.
MP -: MP stands for Member of Parliament. An MP is a person elected to represent people in the Parliament, which makes laws for the country.
Dinesh Sharma -: Dinesh Sharma is a Member of Parliament (MP) from the BJP. He is involved in making laws and policies for the country.
Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti -: Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti is a group that fights to protect reservation policies for SC/ST communities. ‘Bachao’ means ‘save’ and ‘Sangharsh’ means ‘struggle’.
Rajasthan -: Rajasthan is a state in the northwestern part of India. It is known for its deserts and palaces.
Jharkhand -: Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. It is known for its forests and mineral resources.
Madhya Pradesh -: Madhya Pradesh is a state in central India. It is known for its historical sites and wildlife.
police maintaining tight security -: This means that the police were making sure that everyone was safe and that there were no problems during the protests.
