Chirag Paswan defends reservation as a constitutional right

Union Ministers Chirag Paswan and Ramdas Athawale have reaffirmed that caste-based reservation is a constitutional right that cannot be abolished. These statements come in response to the ‘Reservation Hatao Andolan’ protests at Jantar Mantar, where demonstrators called for a complete overhaul of the system, suggesting that quotas should be based on income rather than caste identity.

Chirag Paswan argued that reservation is not charity but a necessary safeguard against persistent social discrimination and untouchability. He noted that even today, Dalit communities face social exclusion, citing instances of discrimination in wedding processions and religious settings. He also emphasized that the NDA government has already implemented a 10 per cent reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).

In Uttar Pradesh, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak stated that the government is committed to addressing the concerns of the student protesters. He indicated that their demands would be conveyed to the BJP’s central leadership and that a delegation of protesters is expected to meet with a Union minister to facilitate dialogue.