Ranchi: The day-long nationwide Bharat Bandh, called by he National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations. has led to a noticeable slowdown in vehicular movement across Jharkhand. From the capital city Ranchi to other districts, a significant reduction in the number of vehicles on the roads was witnessed during the day.
Private bus services remained suspended in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi in view of ongoing Bharat Bandh and commuters faced difficult time reaching their respective workplaces.
Only a handful of buses were seen departing at Ranchi’s Khadgarha Bus Stand early in the morning. Moreover, schools and colleges have been closed in Ranchi in the light of the Bharat Bandh, resulting in the suspension of school buses and other school-related transport services.
Auto-rickshaws and other vehicles running within the city were also seen in less number and similar scenes were also reported from cities like Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Ramgarh, Hazaribagh, Palamu.
It should be noted that the day-long Bharat Bandh has evoked a mixed reaction in Jharkhand on Wednesday, as several public buses stayed off the roads and schools remained closed.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren has also cancelled his visit to Palamu on Wednesday due to the strike.
Twenty-one organisations across the country have called for the Bharat Bandh against the Supreme Court's August 1 decision on the issue of SC-ST reservation. The organisations have opposed the verdict, contending that it will harm the basic principles of reservation.
The state’s ruling alliance – Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal – have extended support to the bandh.
The Left parties, too, have backed the strike. In some parts of the state, workers of the alliance were seen taking to the streets in support of the bandh.
"I had to go to Giridih today for urgent work. But, buses are not plying. I had no prior information about this development," Vinod Rawani told PTI.
