Over 50 Anti-Reservation Protesters Detained at Jantar Mantar
More than 50 demonstrators demanding changes to India's reservation system were detained by police at Jantar Mantar near Connaught Place on Friday evening after refusing to vacate the site.
Hundreds had gathered through the day under the banner of the social media-driven 'Reservation Hatao Andolan'. Tensions escalated around 7:30 pm when several protesters who remained at the venue beyond the permitted 4 pm deadline began shouting slogans. This led to the deployment of additional Delhi Police personnel and the Rapid Action Force to clear the area.
According to police, up to 500 people had received permission to demonstrate until 4 pm, with no authorization granted for an overnight sit-in. While most demonstrators left after the scheduled conclusion, several refused to disperse despite repeated instructions from law enforcement.
Protesters assembled behind police barricades carrying placards and raising slogans demanding that reservation benefits be allocated to the poor rather than based on caste. They called for the replacement of caste-based quotas with economic criteria, a rollback of the UGC roster system, and the implementation of a "sunset clause" to impose a time limit on reservation policies.
Demonstrators also advocated for a "one family, one reservation, one time" framework to prevent benefits from continuing across generations once a family member has utilized them. Protester Abhinav Rai questioned why students in similar economic circumstances face differing selection cut-offs, while UPSC aspirant Aniket Kumar argued that reservation policies must be reviewed periodically rather than continue indefinitely.
Participants also raised concerns regarding recruitment examinations, including UPSC, SSC, railway, and banking tests, arguing that category-based relaxations in age limits and attempt counts create uneven competition windows for general-category candidates.
The demonstration caused significant vehicular disruption across central Delhi. Sansad Marg faced movement restrictions, while diversions were implemented on Tolstoy Road and Ashoka Road. The curbs led to traffic congestion on surrounding stretches, including KG Marg near Connaught Place, Barakhamba Road, and Janpath Road. Traffic personnel were stationed at key junctions to manage vehicular flow, with congestion further compounded by a separate protest near Parliament Street police station.
