– Dalit and Adivasi organisations have called a nationwide strike to protest against the Supreme Court’s judgment on sub-classification of SCs and STs
– The National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations has released a list of demands, including rejecting the judgment and enacting a new law on reservation
– While some fear the judgment may hurt attempts to forge a united Dalit movement, others argue that sub-quotas will not affect Dalit unity
– The BJP is facing challenges in its politics centred around Hindutva nationalism, especially regarding caste and reservation issues
– The party has not clarified its stand on the sub-classification verdict and is facing pressure from allies and the Opposition over recent decisions
– The Opposition, led by Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, are finalizing pre-Assembly election alliances in Jammu and Kashmir
– In another news, several villagers in Odisha were hospitalized after consuming illicit liquor, leading to arrests and seizure of country liquor