Ranchi: Life in Jharkhand may be hit on Monday as leading Opposition parties gear up to support the Bharat Bandh called by tribal and Dalit outfits in the state, Bengal, Bihar, Odisha and Assam to protest against the Centre's apparent indifference towards a recent Supreme Court verdict widely perceived as diluting the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

Major backers of the dawnto-dusk bandh include Congress, JMM and JVM. In a surprise, BJP ally Ajsu Party on Sunday confirmed their support to the bandh.

Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan (a conglomeration of over 40 tribal outfits) is giving moral support to the bandh.

On 20 March, the apex court issued a slew of guidelines that would protect public servants and private individuals from arbitrary and immediate arrest under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

State unit Congress president Ajoy Kumar said his party's central high command had given full support to the bandh. "All party members have been given necessary directions," he added.

JMM general secretary Vinod Kumar Pandey also said all office bearers of his party's district units in Jharkhand, Assam, Bihar, Bengal and Odisha had been asked to ensure the bandh was a success. "The real face of the BJPled government is exposed. We can't afford to remain mute spectators," he said.

The Scheduled Caste front of JVM held a meeting at its party office on Sunday to finalise its action plans led by party president Babulal Marandi. JVM SC front president Prabhat Bhuiyan said apart from supporting the bandh, they would celebrate B.R. Ambdekar's birth anniversary on April 14 across the state. "Our cadres will visit every hamlet or tola (locality) inhabited by Dalits on April 14 to celebrate Ambedkar's birth anniversary and spread his ideology," he said.

Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan (ASA) president Salkhan Murmu said the Monday bandh enjoyed their moral support but clarified, "Neither are we aware who has given this bandh call nor has anyone contacted us for support."

The ASA has given a bandh call in these five states on May 21, primarily demanding that like Lingayat, Sarna should be recognised as a separate religion and appear on the Census. "We have already written to the President, prime minister, Union home minister, governors and chief ministers of these states. If they agree, we will withdraw our bandh call," he said.

Asked, ADG (operations) cum police headquarters senior spokesman R.K. Mallick said adequate security measures would be taken on Monday to prevent any untoward incidents.

But, transporters are taking no chances. Ranchi Bus Owners' Association president Krishna Mohan Singh and Jharkhand Trick Owners' Association convener Lalit Narayan Ojha separately maintained their vehicles would be off roads on Monday.

"This bandh is supported by many mainstream political parties. Defying bandh supporters is not a good idea," said Singh.