Union Minister Chirag Paswan affirmed on Monday that reservation is a constitutional right that cannot be abolished by any authority. His remarks came in response to the Reservation Hatao Andolan protest held at Jantar Mantar, where demonstrators demanded the removal of caste-based quotas.
Speaking to reporters, Paswan stated, “Is reservation something that can be abolished simply because someone says so? It is a constitutional right. Reservation is not charity handed out to anyone; it is a constitutional right, and no power on earth can abolish it.”
He criticized those who seek to reform or review the reservation system, suggesting they do not understand its necessity. Paswan highlighted ongoing discrimination against Dalits, saying, “Look at what happened to Mr Kharge on that stage. The stage was purified after he visited it, wasn’t it? Even today, a Dalit youth is stopped from riding a horse; a Dalit boy is prevented from taking out a wedding procession. When prominent leaders visit a temple, the premises are sometimes washed with Gangajal. So, this discrimination persists, doesn’t it? And these are the Scheduled Castes who have been victims of untouchability. Discrimination still exists today…I can say with absolute certainty that as long as I am here and as long as Chirag Paswan, the son of Ram Vilas Paswan, is part of the government, I will never allow this system to be undermined.”
The Reservation Hatao Andolan protest took place at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Friday, attracting a large gathering that called for the overhaul of the caste-based reservation system. Protesters demanded that quotas in education and employment be determined strictly by income rather than social or caste identities. They also advocated for a “one family, one reservation” policy and the immediate withdrawal of the University Grants Commission’s 2026 caste-equity directives.
In response to the demonstration, Delhi Police and Central Forces were deployed to maintain law and order. Security personnel were present at the designated protest area as a precautionary measure amid the large crowd.
The Reservation Hatao Andolan, an official Instagram page with 5.6 million followers, has gained rapid traction by adopting protest mobilization tactics similar to those of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and organized the physical protest against the reservation system.