The Bharat Bandh called by Dalit and tribal organizations against the Supreme Court’s recent order on reservations saw limited impact in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. Despite demonstrations and marches by supporters of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Samajwadi Party (SP), Azad Samaj Party (ASP), and Dalit groups, essential services, government and private offices, businesses, and educational institutions largely remained unaffected across most districts. Traffic disruptions were reported in cities like Lucknow, Agra, Prayagraj, Saharanpur, and Meerut, where protesters took to the streets with banners and slogans.
In western U.P., thousands of protesters in Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, and Bijnor extended their support to the Bandh. In Saharanpur, the protests caused school closures and significant traffic jams. In Lucknow, gatherings near Ambedkar Statue, Hazratganj, and Parivartan Chowk saw participation from women and youth who opposed the Supreme Court’s verdict on reservations. In Agra, protesters caused traffic snarls, though the impact was less than expected.
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In eastern U.P., protests were mostly peaceful. In Gorakhpur, the police prevented any major disturbances, while in Kanpur, business and public transport continued with minimal disruption. The bandh was more effective in districts like Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar, Deoria, and Kushinagar, where some shops remained closed. However, overall, daily life continued as usual in most parts of the state.
BSP chief Mayawati and SP leader Akhilesh Yadav voiced their support for the protests, emphasizing the need to protect reservation rights. Security was heightened statewide, and no major incidents were reported during the demonstrations.
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