Multiple people were detained after around 300 protesters gathered at Connaught Place's outer circle in Delhi on Sunday to protest against caste-based reservation, officials said. The protesters were also demanding reforms in the quota system, officials said.&nbsp; Over 20 people, who had gathered for the stir at Connaught Place, were detained and removed from the site because no permission had been granted for the agitation, police reportedly said.The protesters, who were carrying placards, raised slogans and called for greater emphasis on economic criteria when deciding eligibility for reservation. They further said that the assistance should reach economically disadvantaged people irrespective of caste, according to news agency PTI.Earlier today, the Delhi Police said no permission was granted to any individual or organisation to hold a protest or gathering at Jantar Mantar over reservation reforms.The gathering was cleared from the protest site, while the police maintained a presence at the Connaught Place. The agitation took place under the banner of “Reservation Hatao Andolan” – an Instagram-based page with around 5.6 million followers – which had called on its followers to join a protest in Delhi after building an online campaign around reservation reforms.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Delhi Police detains &#39;anti-reservation&#39; protesters near Jantar Mantar. <a href="https://t.co/msrK2MCVsC">pic.twitter.com/msrK2MCVsC</a>&mdash; News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) <a href="https://x.com/NewsArenaIndia/status/2091465936276713919?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/short-videos/massive-protest-against-caste-reservation-erupts-at-delhi-s-jantar-mantar-1787472949686">Massive protest against caste reservation erupts at Delhi's Jantar Mantar</a><h2>What are the protesters' demands?</h2>Among the demands raised by the protesters was the introduction of a creamy-layer criterion and a review of the existing reservation framework, PTI reported.They also called for changes in policies concerning Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. One of the protesters said the stir was “not against reservation” but for “reforms in reservation”. “The government should understand that poor people from all communities also face difficulties and their concerns should be heard,” the protester told PTI.The protesters raised concerns regarding the University Grants Commission framework and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. They sought a broader review of policies they said were affecting opportunities in education and employment.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/we-will-not-allow-the-government-to-insult-an-entire-generation-cjp-warns-centre-of-fresh-stir-1787480225627">'We will not allow the government to insult an entire generation': CJP</a>&nbsp;<h3>Prohibitory orders under Section 163 in New Delhi</h3>The police in a statement earlier today said prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which replaced Section 144 of the CrPC, were in force in New Delhi district.They said that in accordance to this, protest marches, processions, demonstrations and assemblies of five or more persons were prohibited in the area.The police then advised citizens not to gather on the basis of such posts or videos and not to forward, share or amplify unverified content&nbsp;Union minister Chirag Paswan has said that the government would engage in dialogue with anti-reservation protesters

Over 20 people were detained after around 300 protesters gathered at Delhi’s Connaught Place to demand reforms in the reservation system. The protesters sought a creamy-layer criterion and greater focus on economic criteria, while Delhi Police cited prohibitory orders 

Multiple people were detained after around 300 protesters gathered at Connaught Place's outer circle in Delhi on Sunday to protest against caste-based reservation, officials said. The protesters were also demanding reforms in the quota system, officials said. Over 20 people, who had gathered for the stir at Connaught Place, were detained and removed from the site because no permission had been granted for the agitation, police reportedly said. The protesters, who were carrying placards, raised slogans and called for greater emphasis on economic criteria when deciding eligibility for reservation. They further said that the assistance should reach economically disadvantaged people irrespective of caste, according to news agency PTI. Earlier today, the Delhi Police said no permission was granted to any individual or organisation to hold a protest or gathering at Jantar Mantar over reservation reforms.The gathering was cleared from the protest site, while the police maintained a presence at the Connaught Place. The agitation took place under the banner of “Reservation Hatao Andolan” – an Instagram-based page with around 5.6 million followers – which had called on its followers to join a protest in Delhi after building an online campaign around reservation reforms.

Over 20 people were detained after around 300 protesters gathered at Delhi’s Connaught Place to demand reforms in the reservation system. The protesters sought a creamy-layer criterion and greater focus on economic criteria, while Delhi Police cited prohibitory orders&nbsp;

Several detained in Delhi's Connaught Place as 300 gather for anti-reservation protest - VIDEO

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

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Several detained in Delhi's Connaught Place as 300 gather for anti-reservation protest - VIDEO

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