Organisations associated with Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) on Wednesday staged street protests and disrupted traffic in Patna and other parts of Bihar as part of a Bharat Bandh called to oppose a recent Supreme Court order related to the creamy layer in reservations.
During the protests, law enforcers also used mild force at some places to maintain order and prevent agitators from uprooting pickets, official sources said.
The protesters were opposing the Supreme Court’s order for making provisions to identify the creamy layer among SCs and STs to restrict them from getting benefits of reservation in government jobs and educational institutions.
Due to protests, vehicular movements in Patna was partially affected causing troubles to those going to offices, colleges and schools besides other commuters.
Some examinees of a competitive test for recruitment of constables also faced difficulties in reaching examination centres due to the protests.
Demonstrations were also organised in other parts of Bihar including Jehanabad, Vaishali and Darbhanga.
In Jehanabad, protesters blocked traffic on NH-83 and raised slogans in support of their demand.
They were demanding Central government steps to negate the recent order of Supreme Court for sub categorisation of SCs and STs before giving reservation benefits to them.
In Hajipur, district headquarters of Vaishali district, vehicular movement was affected badly. People faced great hardship in reaching at their destinations.
Similarly, protesters squatted on railway tracks at Darbhanga Railway station and blocked the operation of trains, including the Sampark Kranti Express.
