Minor response to Jharkhand shutdown call

A shutdown called on Monday over granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Kurmi caste in Jharkhand met with only a minor response.

The shutdown was called by the Kurmi Vikas Morcha.

In Jharkhand, Kurmis come under the Other Backward Caste (OBC) category. Kurmis want ST status to get reservation benefits.

In Jharkhand, 27 per cent seats are reserved for STs, 9 per cent for Scheduled Castes and 14 per cent for OBCs.

The shutdown had no response in cities like Ranchi, Hazaribagh and Bokaro. Schools were open and traffic was normal.

However, shutdown supporters blocked the Ranchi-Patna highway and the Ranchi-Patratu highway for a few hours.

At a few places, supporters burnt tyres and also blocked railway movement.

Terming the shutdown successful, the Kurmi Vikas Morcha President said: "All the parties have used Kurmis as vote bank. In 2019 polls, Kurmis will elect those who will assure the Scheduled Tribe status to the Kurmis."

--IANS

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