Amid continued demands to scrap reservation, which prompted protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Saturday, union minister Chirag Paswan backed the system, saying it is not charity but a constitutional right granted to those who have faced discrimination.
He underscored that reservation is not something that can be ended simply because someone demands it, but is a constitutional right that stems from the idea of bringing people from communities that have faced caste-based discrimination into the mainstream.
“Reservation is not something that can be ended simply because someone demands it. Nor is it charity given to anyone. Reservation is a constitutional right. The idea behind it has been to bring into the mainstream people from communities who have faced discrimination for one reason or another,” Paswan told reporters in Bihar.
Deep Dive
What are the key arguments made by Chirag Paswan in support of the reservation system?
Why are some groups demanding a reform or abolition of the reservation system?
How does the protest movement plan to address their demands regarding reservation reform?
Also Read: ‘Assist the poor, irrespective of caste’: 5 demands at Reservation Hatao Andolan in Delhi
“This includes people belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. What is a Scheduled Caste? These are the castes that have been listed in the Constitution, with untouchability being the basis for their identification,” he added.
{{/usCountry}}“This includes people belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. What is a Scheduled Caste? These are the castes that have been listed in the Constitution, with untouchability being the basis for their identification,” he added.
{{/usCountry}}“They were identified on that basis and included in the Schedule, and reservation was then provided to these castes. Similarly, there are Scheduled Tribes. These are tribes that have been listed in the Schedule and whose way of life, language, dress and customs are distinct and rooted in their own traditions.”
Paswan noted that people from these sections of the society were identified and provisions were made to bring them into mainstream society, through the means of reservation incorporated into the Constitution of India by Babasaheb Ambedkar.
He added that overtime these provisions have been strengthened and said that poor people from upper castes are also made eligible to benefit from reservation.
“With the aim of identifying such groups and bringing them into the mainstream, provisions for reservation were incorporated into the Constitution of India drafted by Babasaheb Ambedkar. Over the years, these provisions have been strengthened from time to time. And today, even poor people from the upper castes are eligible to benefit from reservation.”
“So, when the scope of reservation has become this broad, anyone who thinks or wants to simply end it cannot do so. It is a constitutional right, and there can be no question of ending it without due consideration and debate.”
Paswan said that the government would engage in dialogue with anti-reservation protesters demonstrating at Delhi's Jantar Mantar once they present their demands in a systematic manner.
"Any sort of misunderstanding around reservation can create anger among a large section of the country's population. Once the protesters present their demands systematically, the government will engage in dialogue with them,” he told reporters, news agency PTI reported.
What is ‘Reservation Hatao Andolan’
Hundreds of people gathered at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Saturday protesting against reservations with the ‘Reservation Hatao Andolan’.
RHA, an Instagram-based campaign using Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) tactics, has over 5.6 million followers on Instagram.
It said that the government has agreed for discussion on demands of the anti-reservation protesters, saying that a central minister will “personally” hold talks with the agitators.
“The government has agreed to discuss the demands of the activists of the reservation reform movement. Harsh Bhai has informed that a central minister will personally hold talks with the protesters,” RHA wrote on X.
Their demands include more weight to economic condition while deciding who needs government assistance, including support for education, coaching, scholarships and other expenses.
YouTuber Ajeet Bharti demanded a "quota within quota" arrangement and questioned the government's position on introducing a creamy-layer criterion.
Another demand, listed by Bharti, is for the government to publish a white paper examining the reservation system and its impact over the past eight decades.
Another major demand is that minimum marks should be maintained for admission to higher educational institutions, including premier institutes.
The protesters also sought greater benefits for people classified as 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 said.