On Thursday, Union minister JP Nadda met with representatives of a group that had held a protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on August 21, calling for caste-based reservations to be replaced with income-based quotas in public educational institutions and government employment.
“After the demonstration held at Jantar Mantar on 21 August, amicable discussions were conducted, as planned, with team members Shri Harsh Dubey, Shri Ran Bahadur Singh Chauhan, and Shri Mrityunjay Pathak. In this regard, we will convene again shortly,” Nadda posted on X.
Earlier, Nadda engaged in talks with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), whose demonstrations over examination irregularities prompted the resignation of then Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan in July.
Nadda neither addressed the demands of the Reservation Hatao Andolan nor provided details about what occurred during his meeting with its representatives. Previously, the government had given no indication that such a meeting with the group was planned.
In a post on X, Dubey described the meeting as a significant step toward dialogue and said they would meet Nadda again, working to reach a constructive and fair decision that serves the interests of the entire society. He stressed that they oppose no community, but aim to express their views democratically and peacefully in support of equal opportunities, a fair system, and essential reforms for the nation’s benefit.
The Reservation Hatao Andolan staged a demonstration at Jantar Mantar, calling for quotas in public educational institutions and government jobs to be based strictly on economic criteria, disability, or family circumstances rather than caste. At present, Other Backward Classes receive a 27% reservation, Scheduled Castes 15%, Scheduled Tribes 7.5%, and Economically Weaker Sections 10%.
The August 21 protest took place shortly before assembly elections in five states, including Uttar Pradesh, and placed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government in a difficult position. According to HT, the administration’s efforts to engage with Gen Z have caused unease within the party, with some members contending that talks with the CJP could encourage further demonstrations and the emergence of additional pressure groups.
