Anti-reservation protest: 'Reservation Hatao Andolan' says govt agreed to talk

'Reservation Hatao Andolan' (RHA) on Saturday (August 22) said that the Union government had agreed to discuss the demands of the anti-reservation protesters and a minister would “personally” hold talks.

On Friday, hundreds of people had gathered at Delhi's Jantar Mantar for a protest. Several protesters were detained by Delhi Police.

Also read: Vande Mataram row: BJP resolution condemns Congress' decision

The Delhi Police said no permission had been granted for any protest, procession, demonstration or assembly at Jantar Mantar. However, a no-objection certificate (NOC) was issued for a peaceful protest under the banner of Reservation Hatao Andolan at a different venue – Ramlila Ground – on Friday, according to an official communication by the office of the Central District DCP.

Instagram page

The NOC allowed a maximum of 500 people to gather at the Ramlila Ground until 4 pm, with police stating that it had "no objection" to a protest at Ramlila Maidan from a law and order point of view.

The demonstration followed a call given by Reservation Hatao Andolan, an Instagram-based page that subsequently appealed to people to join a physical protest at Jantar Mantar.

Also read: Two FIRs lodged after CJP-locals clash in Jaipur village over school inspection

Reservation Hatao Andolan is an Instagram-based page. It has over 5.6 million followers on Instagram.

On its X (Formerly Twitter) page, RHA said that their movement has not ended and an Union minister would told talks with the protesters.

What RHA said

“The government has agreed to discuss the demands of the activists of the reservation reform movement. Harsh Bhai has informed that a central minister will personally hold talks with the protesters. It is hoped that @ajeetbharti, @neha_laldas, @ARanganathan72, and others will also be included in this discussion. They can present these issues with much greater clarity and strength through their arguments and data. Remember, the movement has not ended yet (sic),” RHA wrote in Hindi.

At Jantar Mantar, the protesters demanded that economic condition be considered while deciding who should receive government support, including assistance for education, coaching and other needs.

Some protesters also called for the introduction of a creamy-layer criterion in reservation and sought changes in policies relating to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.