Protesters gathered at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar to demonstrate against caste-based reservation, with police detaining several participants during the protest.

The demonstration brought the contentious issue of caste-based reservation back into focus, as protesters raised their objections to the existing reservation system and gathered at one of the capital’s designated protest sites.

Police detained several demonstrators as authorities moved to manage the gathering.

The protest comes amid continuing public and political debate over reservation policies in India, including questions surrounding social justice, equal opportunity, representation and the future of affirmative-action policies.

Jantar Mantar Protest Against Caste-Based Reservation | Delhi Police Detain Several Demonstrators

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Saturday (August 22) met a student delegation that had protested against caste-based reservation at Delhi's Jantar Mantar a day earlier and assured them that their demands would be taken up with the Centre.&nbsp;Pathak addressed a press conference in Lucknow alongside members of the delegation. He said the students had submitted a letter outlining their concerns and that the government would convey their demands to the central leadership.&nbsp;"We have received a letter from all of you (the students) regarding the protest demonstration you were holding at Jantar Mantar. We have submitted that letter to our Central leadership, and the Central leadership has assured us that they will consider the demands of our youth who sat at Jantar Mantar very seriously," Pathak said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-us-trade-talks-collapse-as-carney-vows-dollar-for-dollar-tariff-response-1787413897991">Canada-US trade talks collapse as Carney vows dollar-for-dollar tariff response</a><h2>Pathak assures talks with Centre</h2>Pathak also shared details of the meeting on X and said the BJP-led government remained committed to the future of students.&nbsp;"Today, in Lucknow, a press conference was held with Shri Harsh Dubey ji, who is leading the reservation reform movement at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. In light of the seriousness of the demands and concerns of the student delegation, they were fully assured that their demands will be effectively presented to the central leadership in the coming two days, and a meeting with the concerned central minister ji will also be ensured," he said.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">सरकार ने आरक्षण सुधार आंदोलन के कार्यकर्ताओं की मांगों पर चर्चा के लिए सहमति जताई है। हर्ष भाई ने बताया है कि एक केंद्रीय मंत्री स्वयं आंदोलनकारियों के साथ बातचीत करेंगे। उम्मीद है कि <a href="https://x.com/ajeetbharti?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ajeetbharti</a>, <a href="https://x.com/neha_laldas?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@neha_laldas</a>, <a href="https://x.com/ARanganathan72?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ARanganathan72</a> आदि को भी इस चर्चा में शामिल किया जाएगा। वे अपने…&mdash; Reservation Hatao Andolan (RHA) (@WokeFuneral) <a href="https://x.com/WokeFuneral/status/2091121343345414185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Reservation Hatao Andolan, an Instagram-based campaign leading the protests, later said the government had agreed to discuss the demands of the reservation reform activists.&nbsp;“The government has agreed to discuss the demands of the activists of the reservation reform movement. Harsh Bhai has informed that a central minister will personally hold talks with the protesters,” RHA wrote on X.&nbsp;A large gathering took place at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Friday as protesters demonstrated against the existing caste-based reservation system.&nbsp;Delhi Police and central security forces were deployed at the designated protest site as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order during the gathering.&nbsp;The protesters demanded changes to the existing reservation system and called for a comprehensive review of the policy.

UP Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak met a student delegation following its Jantar Mantar protest and assured that its demands against the existing reservation system would be presented to the Centre for consideration.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Saturday (August 22) met a student delegation that had protested against caste-based reservation at Delhi's Jantar Mantar a day earlier and assured them that their demands would be taken up with the Centre. Pathak addressed a press conference in Lucknow alongside members of the delegation. He said the students had submitted a letter outlining their concerns and that the government would convey their demands to the central leadership. "We have received a letter from all of you (the students) regarding the protest demonstration you were holding at Jantar Mantar. We have submitted that letter to our Central leadership, and the Central leadership has assured us that they will consider the demands of our youth who sat at Jantar Mantar very seriously," Pathak said. Also Read: Canada-US trade talks collapse as Carney vows dollar-for-dollar tariff response Pathak assures talks with Centre Pathak also shared details of the meeting on X and said the BJP-led government remained committed to the future of students. "Today, in Lucknow, a press conference was held with Shri Harsh Dubey ji, who is leading the reservation reform movement at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. In light of the seriousness of the demands and concerns of the student delegation, they were fully assured that their demands will be effectively presented to the central leadership in the coming two days, and a meeting with the concerned central minister ji will also be ensured," he said.

UP Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak met a student delegation following its Jantar Mantar protest and assured that its demands against the existing reservation system would be presented to the Centre for consideration.

UP Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak meets anti reservation activists, assures Centre will consider demands

Jantar Mantar Protest: A large crowd gathered at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Friday for a demonstration against caste-based reservation and demanding reforms to the reservation system. Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force were deployed at the protest site, and several protesters were detained as the demonstration continued.

The protesters, mobilised under the Reservation Hatao Andolan, have called for greater emphasis on economic criteria rather than caste in determining affirmative action and have also raised concerns over UGC rules.

Jantar Mantar Protest: Delhi Police, RAF Detain Anti-Reservation Protesters

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Jantar Mantar Protest Against Caste-Based Reservation | Delhi Police Detain Several Demonstrators

Reservation row: Brajesh Pathak meets protesters, assures talks with leadership

Jantar Mantar Protest: Delhi Police, RAF Detain Anti-Reservation Protesters