Over 50 detained, crowd at Jantar Mantar despite no nod: What happened at ‘Reservation Hatao Andolan’

More than fifty individuals were apprehended at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Friday following a protest demanding changes to India's reservation system. Demonstrators gathered throughout the day, but tensions rose around 7:30 pm when a few protesters persisted despite being asked to disperse. The police and Rapid Action Force were subsequently deployed to manage the situation. While most attendees eventually left, a small group remained, leading to the eventual clearance of Jantar Mantar.

Protesters called for reservation to be based on economic criteria, not caste, arguing that poor students from different castes should receive equal educational opportunities. They questioned why students from similar economic backgrounds, but different castes, should face different outcomes in accessing educational institutions, government jobs, scholarships, and welfare schemes.

Protester Abhinav Rai highlighted the disparity, asking, "We study in the same school, sit in the same classroom and are taught by the same teacher. Then why should I face rejection even after scoring 85%, while someone else gets selected with 45%?"

The demonstrators also advocated for a "one family, one reservation, one time" policy, suggesting that reservation benefits should not be passed down through generations within the same family once a member has benefited. They called for a review of reservation policies, urging a rollback of the UGC roster system and the implementation of a time limit, or "sunset clause," for reservations. Some protesters even advocated for the removal of caste identity from public life, chanting "one nation, one identity."

The protesters expressed concern over differences in age limits and the number of attempts available for candidates in various government recruitment exams, including UPSC, SSC, railway, and banking exams. They argued that certain categories receive longer windows to compete, while general-category candidates face stricter age and attempt limits.