Chirag Paswan: Reservation system could not be abolished merely because some groups were demanding its removal
Staff Reporter / NEW DELHI
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Saturday said the demands raised by students associated with the ongoing “reservation reform” movement would be conveyed to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s central leadership. He also announced that a delegation of protesters is expected to meet a Union minister within the next two days.
Pathak made the statement during a press conference in Lucknow, where he was joined by representatives of the student movement being staged at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. He said the government was committed to addressing the concerns of young people and helping them pursue their aspirations.
According to Pathak, the students’ demands had been heard carefully and they had been assured that appropriate action would be taken. He said a letter submitted by the protesting students would also be forwarded to the BJP’s central leadership.
The Deputy Chief Minister stressed that dialogue and constructive engagement would be pursued to find a solution to what the protesters described as their “justified demands”. The movement is being led by anti-reservation activists, including Harsh Dubey, Mrityunjay Pathak and Shiva Sharma.
Dubey said the students had maintained a peaceful protest and that their principal demand was equal opportunity for all young people. He welcomed Pathak’s assurance regarding a meeting with a Union minister and said the protesters hoped the dialogue would lead to concrete action.
The agitation, however, has triggered a sharp political response from the opposition. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav criticised the movement and alleged that attempts to dilute reservation were being presented under terms such as “reform” and “review”.
Yadav said reservation was a constitutional safeguard for the PDA communities and accused the BJP and its allies of repeatedly raising issues such as the creamy layer and reservation review to weaken existing protections. He reiterated his position that reservation would continue to remain a fundamental issue for historically disadvantaged communities.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Friday said the reservation system could not be abolished merely because some groups were demanding its removal. Speaking in Patna, Paswan described reservation as a constitutional right rather than charity.
His remarks came amid protests at Jantar Mantar seeking changes to the existing reservation framework and, in some cases, an end to affirmative action. The debate has intensified following earlier student protests over alleged examination paper leaks, which had sought to unite students across caste, class and religious lines.
The latest agitation has therefore opened a wider political and social debate over equality of opportunity, affirmative action and the future of India’s reservation policy. Pathak’s proposed dialogue with the protesters is now being seen as an attempt to address the issue through discussion rather than confrontation.