Several protesters were detained by Delhi Police on Friday as a large crowd gathered at Jantar Mantar for a demonstration against caste-based reservation.
The demonstration was mobilised largely through social media by the "Reservation Hatao Andolan", an Instagram-based campaign that had appealed to its followers to join the physical protest. The page has around 5.6 million followers on Instagram.
One of the recurring demands raised at the protest site was that economic disadvantage, rather than caste alone, should determine access to government support and benefits. Protesters also sought a review of the reservation framework, changes to quota policies and greater support for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
Here are the five demands raised by protesters:
1. More weight to economic condition
Deep Dive
What are the main demands of the protesters at the Reservation Hatao Andolan in Delhi?
Why do the protesters believe economic conditions should be prioritized over caste for government support?
How does the demand for a 'quota within quota' address current issues within the reservation system?
Protesters argued that financial circumstances should be considered while deciding who needs government assistance, including support for education, coaching, scholarships and other expenses.
"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 associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha said, reported news agency PTI.
{{/usCountry}}"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 associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha said, reported news agency PTI.
{{/usCountry}}Another participant said, “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,” another protester told PTI.
2. Quota within quota
The protesters called for a broader review of the reservation system, arguing that its benefits may not always reach the most disadvantaged groups within reserved categories.
"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," PTI quoted a protester as saying.
YouTuber Ajeet Bharti, who spoke at the demonstration, also demanded a "quota within quota" arrangement and questioned the government's position on introducing a creamy-layer criterion.
He listed his “quota within quota” demand and accused that the government has said that the creamy layer will not be included in it. Bharti questioned, "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," he said while talking to news agency ANI.
3. A white paper on reservations
Another demand, listed by Bharti, was for the government to publish a white paper examining the reservation system and its impact over the past eight decades.
He cited the Musahar community in Bihar as an example of a group that, according to him, has not received adequate benefits from the reservation system because of limited political representation.
The demand for a review was also echoed by other protesters, who questioned whether a system introduced decades ago continues to address present-day social and economic conditions.
"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.
4. Minimum marks for higher education
Another major demand was that minimum marks should be maintained for admission to higher educational institutions, including premier institutes.
“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," Ajeet Bharti told ANI.
5. Expand EWS benefits
The protesters also sought greater benefits for people classified as Economically Weaker Sections.
Bharti added: “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?"
Beyond these five demands, protesters also raised concerns over the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and higher education policies, including the University Grants Commission framework.
(With ANI, PTI inputs)