The Reservation Hatao Andolan (RHA) has claimed that the government has agreed to discuss the demands raised by protesters seeking changes to the reservation system. The group said a Union minister would personally meet representatives of the movement for discussions.
The announcement came a day after a large protest was held at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, where demonstrators raised concerns over caste-based reservation. Several protesters were detained by Delhi Police during Friday’s demonstration.
RHA, an Instagram-based campaign with around 5.6 million followers, said the movement would continue despite the proposed talks. In a post on X, the group said the government had agreed to discuss the activists’ demands and stressed that “the movement has not ended yet.”
The protesters have put forward several demands, including greater consideration of economic conditions while deciding eligibility for government support. They argued that financial assistance for education, scholarships, coaching and other facilities should reach people based on their economic needs, irrespective of caste.
Another major demand is “quota within quota”. Protesters want the government to examine whether the benefits of reservation are reaching the most disadvantaged sections within reserved communities. They have also raised questions about the possible introduction of a creamy-layer criterion.
The protesters are also demanding a white paper on the reservation system. They want the government to examine its impact over the past several decades and assess whether the existing framework is achieving its intended objectives.
Minimum marks for admission to higher educational institutions is another demand. Speakers at the protest argued that admission standards should be maintained in institutions such as IITs and IIMs, while ensuring that deserving students are not denied opportunities.
The movement has also sought an expansion of benefits for people covered under the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category. Protesters have called for greater support in areas such as application fees, hostel charges and course fees.
Among those who spoke at the demonstration was YouTuber Ajeet Bharti, who supported several of the demands and called for a broader review of the reservation system.
The protesters have also raised concerns regarding the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and certain higher education policies.
While the government’s reported willingness to hold talks could open the way for discussions, RHA has made it clear that it does not consider the protest movement over and expects its demands to remain on the agenda.
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