General show of strength: Thousands storm Jantar Mantar over UGC norms, quota reforms

Thousands gathered at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar in a show of strength by groups opposing the UGC equity norms and seeking reforms in caste-based reservations. The protest by diverse groups, primarily from upper castes, came amid confusion over Delhi Police permission. Protesters said they would leave only after submitting a memorandum to PM Modi.Protesters at Jantar Mantar claimed thousands had turned up for the demonstration, although there was no official estimate of the crowd. (Images: India Today Group)The site of the 45-day-long Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests, New Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Friday witnessed another show of strength, this time by a large number of protesters from the unreserved classes. The protesters, primarily from the "upper castes", rallied against the University Grants Commission's (UGC) equity regulations and demanded a reform in caste-based reservation.Friday's protest, organised under the banner of Reservation Reform Andolan and led by NEET aspirant Harsh Dubey, was joined by Rajasthan-based General Sena and Chanakya Sena, as well as the Karni Sena, amid confusion over permission to hold the demonstration. Influencer Ajeet Bharti, who has been vocal on the twin issues, was also present.The gathering also saw protesters reciting the Hanuman Chalisa and raising chants of "Siyawar Ramchandra ki Jai", revealed videos posted on X by journalists and attendees.Some protesters also voiced opposition to the SC/ST Act and demanded its withdrawal. They argued that laws should not be misused against anyone and urged the government to take necessary steps to prevent such misuse, reported Bharat Kumar for Aaj Tak. According to a ground report by UP Tak, India Today Digital's sister portal, protesters claimed thousands had turned up for the demonstration, although there was no official estimate of the crowd.The gathering took place amid heavy security and restrictions imposed by the Delhi Police, with barricades erected around Jantar Mantar and personnel from Delhi Police, the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) deployed at the site. Some of the handles posting from the protest site said that the participation in this protest has also debunked the narrative that such a demonstration won’t see numbers.The protest took place despite a confusion over the venue and permission being granted or denied by Delhi Police. CONFUSION OVER PROTEST VENUE: JANTAR MANTAR OR RAMLEELA MAIDANThe protest was centred on demands for reform in India's reservation system. Several protesters called for benefits to be determined on the basis of economic circumstances. Protesters also raised slogans over the now-stayed UGC norms.The demonstration came amid a dispute over permission to protest at Jantar Mantar. In a public notice, Delhi Police said office-bearers of the Reservation Hatao Andolan had been informed through official communication and asked everyone to "adhere [to] the lawful instructions and remain peaceful".However, the organisers and protesters remained adamant that they wanted to protest at Jantar Mantar rather than move elsewhere."We are sitting at Jantar Mantar. We have asked for permission to protest here, and this is exactly where we want to be. And we will continue to sit here," anti-reservation activist Abhinay Pandey wrote on X.At the Jantar Mantar protest site, organiser Harsh Dubey alleged that people attempting to join the demonstration were being stopped outside. He also claimed organisers had spent hours in discussions with police and were subsequently asked to shift the protest to Ramlila Maidan, revealed the UP Tak report.Later, permission was granted to protest at Jantar Mantar.WILL LEAVE ONLY AFTER SUBMITTING MEMORANDUM TO PM: HARSH DUBEYHarsh Dubey, in another video, said the protesters intended to remain at the site until they were able to submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi."We will sit here and will leave only after submitting our memorandum to Narendra Modi," he said. According to Dubey, the principal demand was for reforms to ensure reservation benefits reached those who actually needed them.Another protester, Prateek Pandey, who belongs to the Reservation Hatao Mission, took to X and argued that reservation should be based on economic criteria rather than caste. He claimed people had travelled from different parts of the country for the demonstration despite being stopped or diverted at various points. He argued that economically well-off families should not continue receiving the same benefits while poor people remained in need of state support.Some protesters also alleged that they had initially been directed towards Ramlila Maidan before returning to Jantar Mantar. A protester from Rajasthan's Alwar said a group of around 40 people had gone to Ramlila Maidan after being directed there, only to come back.DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PROTESTERS WRONG: MOHANDAS PAIThe row over permission also drew political commentary. Author and commentator Anand Ranganathan compared the Delhi Police's handling of the reservation reform protests and the CJP protests. Writing on X, he alleged that "Modi-hating anarchists" had received permission to demonstrate at Jantar Mantar after pleading for three hours, while "Modi-loving nationalists" had sought permission for 30 days but were denied it.Reacting to Ranganathan's post, chairperson of venture capital firm Aarin Capital and former CFO at Infosys, Mohandas Pai wrote on X saying, "This discrimination is very very wrong Amit Shah [home minister]. Why discriminate against law-abiding citizens and boost anarchists?"The protesters, meanwhile, stressed that their agitation would remain peaceful. A protester told UP Tak said, that those gathered were "nationalist protesters" who had come to put forward their demands rather than indulge in violence.The Jantar Mantar protest on Friday came after weeks of online mobilisation led by Harsh Dubey. Campaigns seeking reservation reforms and opposing the now-stayed UGC equity regulations gathered momentum in the aftermath of the CJP-led agitation, with influencers such as Ajeet Bharti, Anand Ranganathan and Anuradha Tiwari amplifying the debate.The campaign had already moved from social media to the streets, with demonstrations reported in Nagpur in Maharashtra, Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, Jaipur in Rajasthan and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.In Rajasthan, the Shri Rajput Karni Sena undertook a 24-day, 800-km march to Jaipur against the UGC Equity Regulations, which ended in clashes with police after protesters allegedly breached barricades.During the protest, demonstrators urged the government to seriously consider their demands. They warned that if no positive steps were taken soon, the agitation would be expanded in the coming days. Meanwhile, security was maintained at Jantar Mantar amid the presence of security personnel, with the administration keeping a close watch on the situation.- Ends(With inputs from Bharat Kumar)Published By: Avinash KateelPublished On: Aug 21, 2026 19:07 IST