Over 50 detained at Jantar Mantar; protesters demand reservation for poor, not castes

NEW DELHI: More than 50 protesters who had gathered at Jantar Mantar demanding changes to India’s reservation system were detained by cops Friday. While hundreds had gathered through the day, the situation escalated around 7.30pm as several protesters who remained at the spot beyond the prescribed time of 4pm began raising slogans. This prompted the deployment of additional Delhi Police personnel and Rapid Action Force. Police said most protesters had left after the demonstration ended, but several remained at the spot despite repeated requests to disperse. The situation was later brought under control and Jantar Mantar was cleared. Reservation should go to poor, not castes: Protesters By afternoon, demonstrators had assembled at Jantar Mantar behind police barricades, carrying placards and raising slogans such as “Aarakshan gareeb ko mile, jaati ko nahi” (reservation should go to the poor, not castes). The demonstration, organised under the banner of the social media-driven ‘Reservation Hatao Andolan’, also saw protesters calling for a rollback of the UGC roster system. At the centre of the protest was the demand to replace caste-based reservation with a system based on economic criteria. Protesters drew comparisons between students or families in similar economic circumstances but belonging to different castes, questioning why their access to educational institutions, govt jobs, scholarships and welfare schemes should differ. “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%?” questioned protester Abhinav Rai. Protesters also advocated a “one family, one reservation, one time” policy, arguing that reservation benefits should not continue across generations within the same family once a member has availed of them. They sought a rollback of the UGC roster system and the introduction of a time limit, or “sunset clause”, for reservation. Some called for caste identity to be removed from public life, raising the slogan “one nation, one identity”. UPSC aspirant Aniket Kumar said reservation policies should be periodically reviewed rather than continue indefinitely in their present form. “The idea is that reservation benefits should not continue across generations within the same family once a member has already benefited from them,” he said. The protesters also raised concerns over differences in age limits and the number of attempts available to candidates in govt recruitment examinations, including UPSC, SSC, railway and banking exams. They argued that relaxations available to some categories effectively give candidates a longer window to compete, while general-category aspirants face tighter age and attempt limits. Police at the venue said up to 500 people had been permitted to demonstrate until 4pm, with no permission granted for an overnight sit-in. Barricades were erected around the protest site to keep the gathering confined to the designated area. The demonstration affected traffic in and around central Delhi. Sansad Marg was restricted, while diversions and restrictions were put in place on Tolstoy Road and Ashoka Road. The curbs increased traffic pressure on surrounding stretches, with congestion reported on KG Marg near Connaught Place, Barakhamba Road and Janpath Road. Traffic sources said personnel were deployed at key points to regulate vehicle movement and enforce the restrictions. “The deployment is also there from local police and everyone is acting on their directions,” a traffic source said. Sources, however, said the congestion could not be attributed solely to the Jantar Mantar demonstration, as another protest was taking place near Parliament Street police station, adding to traffic pressure around Sansad Marg. [Image text:] RGRR ereTa--3m 3 ata 3IREUT RESERVATION 3&T0