NEW DELHI: YouTuber Ajeet Bharti, who was among those at a protest at Jantar Mantar demanding changes to India’s reservation system, said the government should issue a white paper on reservations and hold talks with protesters.“Our biggest demand is that the government should come up with a white paper stating that the reservations you’ve given to people for 80 years.” Bharti said.“I come from Bihar. Research how dire the situation of the Musahar community is. Their children aren’t getting reservations. Why? Because those caste groups don’t even have leaders…”He said the protesters were also demanding quota within quota and questioned the government’s position on the creamy layer.“The second demand is quota within quota, on which the government has also said that we will not implement the creamy layer in it. Why will you not implement it? It is so absurd that the government is bowing down to those few Dalit leaders who only talk about their caste group…”Bharti said the protesters also wanted minimum marks to be introduced for admissions.“The third demand is minimum marks. You cannot sell the dream of a developed India by compromising on merit. If 50% of the deserving youth or boys and girls who are studying will not get admission in the IITs, IIMs, or higher education, your efficiency has reduced by 50% right there…”He also raised the issue of provisions for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).“Then the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) should be made a part of the Scheduled Castes (SC). The class whose definition says economically weaker, you are neither giving them a facility in buying the form, nor are you waiving their hostel fee, nor is their course fee being waived; what will you achieve by merely recognising it?…”Bharti urged the government to engage with the protesters.“At least indicate that we are going to have a sit-down talk about this…”
More than 50 protesters detained
More than 50 protesters were detained by Delhi Police on Friday after a demonstration at Jantar Mantar demanding changes to India’s reservation system escalated on Friday evening.Hundreds of people had gathered at the protest site during the day. The situation escalated around 7.30pm after several protesters remained at the spot beyond the permitted time of 4pm and began raising slogans.Additional Delhi Police personnel and the Rapid Action Force were deployed as police asked the protesters to disperse.Police said most demonstrators had left after the protest ended, but several remained despite repeated requests to leave. The situation was later brought under control and Jantar Mantar was cleared.
