Hundreds of people staged a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, opposing caste-based reservation and calling for a shift toward economic criteria for benefits.
The demonstration was led by Harsh Dubey of the Reservation Reforms Movement. Participants included members of Rajasthan-based groups such as General Sena, Chanakya Sena and Karni Sena.
Protesters raised slogans demanding that reservations should not be granted on the basis of caste, and urged that support be targeted to economically disadvantaged sections. They also voiced opposition to the University Grants Commission’s new rules.
According to the protesters, assistance such as scholarships and fee concessions should reach those who are economically backward. They said the existing caste-based reservation system, introduced years ago, should be reviewed in light of current social and economic conditions.
With large crowds gathering in the national capital, the area saw heightened tension. Police erected barricades and forcibly detained the protesters.
