Community groups say U.P. ban on caste-based rallies hits mobilisation

The Uttar Pradesh government notification on Sunday (September 21, 2025) prohibiting caste-based political rallies, mention of the caste of accused persons in police stations and on vehicles, signboards, etc. has created ferment on the ground among several social organisations centred around caste.

Some of these outfits, primarily comprising Other Backward Classes (OBCs) communities or Dalit groups, said the move — prompted by a September 16 directive from a single-judge Bench of the Allahabad High Court to curb glorification of caste — may discourage increasing awareness of marginalised communities that are seeking representation and recognition in political and social circles through organised movements against caste-based discrimination.

“Decades back, mostly privileged caste groups used to have social association which used to work as pressure group pushing their cause of representation and multiple benefits in front of government architecture. In the last decades, different agrarian or marginalised castes gained awareness and formed organisations backing their case of representative and stake in power sharing. This decision will discourage such a mobilisation of struggle for democratic and rightful participation,” said Rohit Bhadana, an office bearer associated with Akhil Bharatiya Veer Gurjar Mahasabha in Ghaziabad. 

Suraj Jatav, Joint Secretary of Bijnor based Scheduled Caste Democratic Federation argued that the recent push will hinder a broader organising through markers and symbols. “As Dalit sections started developing political and social consciousness and started building an organized mechanism against caste-based discrimination through markers and symbols, the move may hinder it. On one hand, the issue is prejudice and injustice based on caste increased due to urbanisation with a pushback, on the other hand, coming from our society through social media and symbols. This decision to ban on caste-centred references or mobilisation will encourage the forces of injustice and ultimate target such social community-based groups who fight against discrimination,” said Mr. Jatav. He added that symbols of castes are a way of promoting self-respect among a section of Dalits. 

Suresh Patel, of Lakhimpur Kheri-based All India United Kurmi Mahasangh shared similar views and wondered whether the decision would end the caste-centric discriminatory mentality of individuals. “Every now and then, we hear about caste centric discriminatory mentality of those sitting in high offices of public life impacting merit-based selection and promoting third graders. Such a banning will be useless, until we fail to check the mentality of casteism,” added Mr. Patel. 

On September 21, Uttar Pradesh officiating Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar issued a 10-point directive to all the district magistrates and police chiefs adding that caste-based rallies for political purposes are against public order and prohibit caste symbols in any form like sign boards, social media or at public places. The order also directed that caste will no longer be mentioned in police records like FIRs or arrest memos. The order is taken on the directives of the Allahabad High Court.