Reservation Hatao protest: Security increased at Jantar Mantar as police detain several protestors

A large number of people turned up at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Friday to take part in the “Reservation Hatao Andolan” with protesters demanding modifications to the country’s reservation system, The Times of India reported. The agitators want the system to consider merit and economic status of candidates over caste and the changes in caste-based questions and requirements asked in official forms. The protest continued even though Delhi police said there was no permission for the agitation at Jantar Mantar.

The police as well as central security forces were deployed at the protest site, with barricades being installed as more protesters arrived at the scene.

Earlier, the police had denied permission to hold any protest, procession or gathering at Jantar Mantar on Aug. 21. Delhi had come under prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita under which a gathering of five or more individuals had been banned throughout New Delhi district. The police had, meanwhile, provided protesters an alternative site for demonstration at Ramlila ground where it gave a go-ahead for a peaceful demonstration involving not more than 500 individuals to be concluded by 4 p.m. Several people were detained by police after they insisted to continue protest at Jantar Mantar.

Meanwhile the development brings the much discussed issue of reservation again into the limelight with protesters arguing for giving importance to economic factors and merit, more than caste to frame a reservation system in the country