Anti-reservation protest: Several detained as crowd gathers at Delhi's Connaught Place

Around 300 demonstrators gathered at Connaught Place's outer circle in Delhi on Sunday to protest caste-based reservation and call for reforms in the reservation framework, according to police. More than 20 protesters were detained for holding the demonstration without authorization. The protesters raised their voices through slogans and placards, urging a focus on economic criteria rather than caste when determining eligibility for reservation and government assistance.

They argued that aid should reach economically disadvantaged individuals irrespective of their caste.

Key demands included the introduction of a creamy-layer criterion and a review of the existing reservation system, as well as changes to policies concerning Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes. The protesters emphasized that they were not opposed to reservation but sought reforms. They stressed that poor people from all communities face difficulties and their concerns should be heard.

Another participant highlighted the need to review the existing system to ensure its benefits reached those genuinely in need.

The demonstrations were part of a broader mobilization primarily organized through social media. The Reservation Hatao Andolan, an Instagram page with approximately 5.6 million followers, had called on its followers to join the physical demonstration in Delhi after launching an online campaign around reservation reforms. Two days prior, hundreds of people gathered at Jantar Mantar following the campaign's call. Police detained several protesters at that location as well.

In contrast, a separate police-approved demonstration under the same banner had been permitted at Ramlila Ground for up to 500 people until 4 pm. Police maintained a strong presence at Connaught Place throughout the demonstration.