A protest against caste-based reservation drew around 300 people to Delhi’s Connaught Place on Sunday, with demonstrators calling for changes to the existing quota system and greater consideration of economic circumstances.
The protesters gathered around the outer circle of Connaught Place carrying placards and raising slogans. They demanded reforms that, according to them, would ensure government assistance reaches economically disadvantaged people across communities.
Delhi Police detained more than 20 protesters and removed them from the area, officials said, citing the absence of official permission for the demonstration.
Protesters Demand Changes to Reservation Policy
A central issue raised during the protest was the introduction of a creamy-layer criterion and a broader review of India’s existing reservation framework.
Participants argued that economic hardship should receive greater consideration when determining eligibility for certain government benefits and support.
Several protesters also called for changes to policies related to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC).
One protester said the demonstration was not intended to oppose reservation altogether but to seek changes in how the system operates.
The participant argued that economically disadvantaged people from every community can face serious difficulties and that their concerns should also be considered while framing reservation policies.
Protesters Call for Economic Criteria
Another participant said the current system should be reviewed to determine whether its benefits are reaching the people who need them most.
The protesters emphasised that economic circumstances should play a greater role in determining access to government support. They called for a system that, in their view, better addresses financial hardship while retaining appropriate safeguards for communities that benefit from affirmative-action policies.
Police Detain Protesters Over Lack of Permission
Police officials said the gathering had not received the required permission. As a result, officers intervened and detained more than 20 people who had assembled at Connaught Place.
The protesters were subsequently removed from the site as police maintained a presence in the area to prevent the demonstration from continuing.
The incident highlights the continuing public debate surrounding India’s reservation system, with questions over caste-based quotas, economic disadvantage, the creamy layer and the distribution of benefits remaining politically and socially sensitive issues.
The protesters’ demands have added another voice to the wider discussion over whether the existing reservation framework should be reviewed and how government support can be made more effective for those facing economic hardship.