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COVER STORY SEPTEMBER 04, 2026 | The Indian Eye 4

ANTI-RESERVATION STIR
RISE OF A NEW

MOVEMENT?

The BJP’s outreach to reservation opponents reflects a delicate political balancing act as it tries to retain

upper-caste support without alienating the Dalit and OBC voters central to its electoral coalition

OUR BUREAU
New Delhi
he meeting between Union
Minister J.P. Nadda and rep-
Tresentatives of the Reservation
Hatao Andolan (RHA) comes at a
politically sensitive moment for the
Bharatiya Janata Party, particularly
as caste remains one of the most con-
sequential factors shaping electoral
politics in Uttar Pradesh. Nadda’s
decision to engage with activists who
organized the August 21 demonstra-
tion at Jantar Mantar does not mean
that the BJP is moving towards sup-
porting the abolition of reservation.
Rather, it reflects the party’s attempt
to understand and contain a growing
sentiment among sections of young, A massive crowd gathered during the “Reservation Reform Satyagraha” demonstration called by the Reservation Reform Alliance (RRA)
largely upper-caste Indians who be-
lieve that the existing system needs against caste-based reservation at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi (ANI Photo)
substantial reform.
Nadda said on Thursday that he a longstanding grievance among communities, the activists are fram- of social justice. He argued that the
had held “cordial discussions” with sections of young Indians who are ing it around income, merit and social conditions that produced the
Harsh Dubey, Ran Bahadur Singh competing for a limited number of equal opportunity. demand for affirmative action have
Chauhan and Mrityunjay Pathak, government jobs and seats in educa- Yet this is precisely where the not disappeared. Referring to con-
members of the team associated with tional institutions and who believe BJP’s dilemma begins. The party can tinuing instances of caste discrimi-
the movement, and added that “we that caste-based quotas disadvantage listen to the anti-reservation constit- nation, he said, “Even today, a Dalit
will meet again soon.” The meeting them regardless of their economic uency, but it cannot afford to endorse youth is stopped from riding a horse;
followed a protest under the ban- circumstances. The movement is at- a demand for abolishing reservation. a Dalit boy is prevented from taking
ner of Reservation Hatao Andolan, tempting to translate that frustration Union Minister Chirag Paswan made out a wedding procession.” He also
where demonstrators demanded a into a broader argument about equal the government’s position explicit referred to instances where temple
review of caste-based reservations opportunity. Harsh Dubey, after his after the Jantar Mantar demonstra- premises are allegedly purified after
and argued that quotas in education meeting with Nadda, stressed that tion. “Is reservation something that visits by Dalit leaders, asking, “So, this
and employment should be deter- “our objective is not against any sec- can be abolished simply because discrimination persists, doesn’t it?”
mined by income rather than caste. tion,” but was to “democratically and someone says so? It is a constitution- His argument strikes at the cen-
They also called for a “one family, peacefully present our views for equal al right,” he said. “Reservation is not tral premise of the RHA movement.
one reservation” policy and demand- opportunities, a just system, and neces- charity handed out to anyone; it is a If caste discrimination remains em-
ed the withdrawal of the UGC’s 2026 sary reforms in the national interest.” constitutional right, and no power on bedded in Indian society, reservation
caste-equity directives. That language is important be- earth can abolish it.” supporters argue, replacing caste
The BJP’s willingness to talk to cause it represents an effort to make Paswan’s intervention is espe- with income as the primary criterion
the protesters is significant because the anti-reservation argument more cially significant because reservation would fail to address the social dis-
the anger behind the movement can- politically acceptable. Instead of pre- is not merely an electoral issue for advantage that affirmative action was
not simply be dismissed as an isolat- senting the issue purely as a conflict Dalit politics; it is closely associat- designed to correct. Economic depri-
ed upper-caste reaction. It taps into between upper castes and reserved ed with the constitutional promise Continued on next page... >>

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