‘Reservation Hatao’ Andolan at Jantar Mantar: Here’s What the Agitators Demand

Delhi Police detained several demonstrators at Jantar Mantar on Friday during an agitation against caste-based reservation.

The "Reservation Hatao Andolan" campaign, which has 5.6 million followers on Instagram, organised the demonstration through social media.

Demonstrators insisted that state aid and privileges should be based on financial hardship rather than solely on caste.

Focus On Economic Need

Demonstrators argued that financial circumstances must determine eligibility for state assistance, covering education, coaching and scholarships.

"Our demand is that economic condition should be considered while deciding who needs government support. A poor person, irrespective of caste, should be provided assistance for education, coaching and other needs," a protester from the Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha said, as reported by PTI.

Another participant clarified that the movement does not oppose state welfare. "We are not saying that economically weaker people should be left without support. We are saying that assistance should be targeted at those who need it, including through scholarships, fee support and coaching," the protester said, as reported by PTI.

Demanding Systemic Quota Reforms

Participants sought a comprehensive review of the current reservation structure, advocating for a "quota within quota" to distribute benefits equitably among disadvantaged groups.

"We have been raising this issue for several years. Our contention is that the government should examine whether the present system is achieving its intended purpose and whether benefits are reaching people at the grassroots level," a demonstrator said, as reported by PTI.

YouTuber Ajeet Bharti addressed the crowd to question the government over its stance on excluding the creamy layer. "Why will you not implement it? It is so absurd that the government is bowing down to those few Dalit leaders who only talk about their caste group," Bharti said, as reported by ANI.

Call For White Paper

Bharti demanded the government release a white paper to evaluate the impact of the reservation system over the past eight decades. He highlighted Bihar's Musahar community as a group that has failed to gain adequate advantages from quotas due to poor political representation.

Other participants echoed the necessity for a modern reassessment. "The circumstances have changed considerably over the decades. There should be a wider discussion on whether the existing framework needs to be reviewed and how economic disadvantage can be addressed without discrimination," a participant said.

Merit And EWS Expansion

The crowd insisted on enforcing minimum marks for admission into higher educational institutions.

"You cannot sell the dream of a developed India by compromising on merit. If 50% of the deserving youth or boys and girls who are studying will not get admission in the IITs, IIMs or higher education, your efficiency has reduced by 50% right there," Bharti said, as reported by ANI.

He also pushed for enhanced benefits for the Economically Weaker Sections. "Then the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) should be made a part of the Scheduled Castes (SC). The class whose definition says economically weaker, you are neither giving them a facility in buying the form, nor is waiving their hostel fee, nor is their course fee being waived; what will you achieve by merely recognising it?" Bharti added.

Protesters raised additional concerns regarding the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and UGC higher education policies.