Image description

On Wednesday, the All India Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation (BAMCEF) has announced a Bharat Bandh to demand a caste-based census. The statewide strike was announced in protest of the Centre's refusal to undertake a caste-based census for the Other Backward Classes (OBC).

The Federation is also pushing for reservations in the business sector for the SC/ST/OBC populations. BAMCEF is also contesting the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) during elections, as well as the National Register of Citizens (NRC), Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and National Population Register issues (NPR).

Other important demands include a distinct electorate for OBCs in Panchayat polls in Odisha and Madhya Pradesh, the reinstatement of the previous pension program, labor rights protection, and the displacement of tribal people.

Farmers should be guaranteed a minimum support price (MSP), according to BAMCEF. A caste-based census has been demanded by several parties, including the BJP's ally Janata Dal-United.