New Delhi, Aug 8: A nationwide agitation has been called tomorrow, August 9, by over a dozen Dalit groups under the aegis of All India Ambedkar Mahasabha (AIAM) and farmers' outfits who have united under the banner of All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS). The shutdown call has also been supported by the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM).

While the Dalit groups are protesting against the alleged rise in atrocities against the community under the NDA regime, the AIKS has launched an agitation to mark its dissent against the lack of steps taken by the Centre to address the agrarian distress.

The IESM has supported the bandh call accusing the Modi government of not paying heed to the anomalies they have raised related to the implementation of 'one rank, one pension'.

Apart from the above groups which have called an all-India shutdown, a Maharashtra bandh will also be observed by Maratha outfits under the aegis of Maratha Kranti Morcha.

Bharat Bandh on August 9: Will Schools, Buses, Train Services be Affected? Know What All Remains Closed

- Schools and colleges are expected to function as usual in all states, barring parts of Maharashtra, where Maratha pro-reservation groups have called a state-wide bandh. Schools and other educational institutes have been ordered by the district administration to remain closed in Pune.

- Bus and train services are expected to ply as per the normal schedule. In parts of Maharashtra, however, there remains a possibility of public and private transport be terminated if a section of the protesters turn violent. Although the bandh organisers have ensured that their cadres would stage only peaceful sit-ins, a section of unruly elements infiltrating their protest could not be ruled out.

- As seen in Navi Mumbai last month, the bandh called by Maratha groups turned violent after suspected hooliganistic elements joined the agitation and launched an attack on public and private properties.

- Notably, the protesters have exempted Navi Mumbai and Thane from this round of the agitation.

Although Maharashtra remains on the edge due to the bandh called by the Maratha groups, the rest of India is likely to witness a subdued impact of the shutdown as several Dalit outfits have backed out from the protest following the amendment passed by the Centre in Lok Sabha on Monday which reverses the changes made to the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by the Supreme Court.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 08, 2018 08:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).