Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Athawale, Akhilesh Yadav Defend Constitutional Reservation After Delhi Protest
Some people protested against reservation in New Delhi.
Reservation gives certain groups opportunities in education, jobs or representation.
Ramdas Athawale said the Constitution protects reservation and that nobody should abolish it.
Akhilesh Yadav also said reservation will continue.
Yadav accused the BJP and its allies of trying to weaken reservation through ideas such as reform or review.
Athawale said reservations were created for disadvantaged communities.
He also mentioned reservations for OBCs and economically weaker sections.
Police reportedly detained some protesters and increased security at the protest site.
Ramdas Athawale and Akhilesh Yadav said reservation is a constitutional right that cannot be abolished.
Athawale credited B. R. Ambedkar with introducing reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
He said reservations for OBCs were provided under V. P. Singh’s government and that Narendra Modi’s government added 10% EWS reservation.
Yadav alleged that calls for reservation reform, review, creamy-layer rules or giving up reservation conceal efforts to end it.
Several anti-reservation protesters were reportedly detained, while security was tightened around Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
- Who
- Union Minister of State Ramdas Athawale, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and anti-reservation protesters.
- What
- Athawale and Yadav defended reservation as a constitutional right after an anti-reservation demonstration.
- When
- The statements were made the day after a Friday demonstration; no exact date was provided.
- Where
- The demonstration took place at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, while Athawale spoke to reporters in Patna.
- Why
- The statements responded to demands to abolish reservation and allegations that proposed reforms could weaken it.
Reservation Defenders
Anti-Reservation Protesters
Constitutional status
Reservation Defenders
Ramdas Athawale and Akhilesh Yadav said reservation is a constitutional right that no one can abolish.
Anti-Reservation Protesters
Protesters gathered in New Delhi for an anti-reservation demonstration, although the article does not detail their specific arguments.
Proposed reforms
Reservation Defenders
Yadav alleged that calls for reservation review, reform, creamy-layer rules or voluntary surrender are ways to weaken or end reservation.
Anti-Reservation Protesters
The article says reservation reform was cited in the broader dispute but does not provide a detailed response from protesters.
Political responsibility
Reservation Defenders
Yadav accused the BJP and its allies of repeatedly trying to end reservation through different approaches.
Anti-Reservation Protesters
No detailed statement from the BJP, the NDA or the protesters was included in the article.
- Protest location
- Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
- Athawale’s position
- Reservation is a constitutional right and cannot be abolished.
- Yadav’s position
- Reservation is the right of PDA society and will continue.
- EWS reservation
- Athawale said Narendra Modi’s government provided 10% reservation for economically weaker sections.
- Protest response
- Several protesters were reportedly detained by Delhi Police.
- Security
- Security was tightened around the protest site amid a heavy turnout.