Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Union Minister Athawale Seeks Sedition Charges Against Reservation Opponents
Union minister Ramdas Athawale said people who oppose reservation should face sedition charges.
He said reservation is protected by the Constitution.
He also said opposing it means opposing the Constitution.
His comments followed protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
The protesters opposed caste-based reservation.
They wanted economic status to be considered instead of caste.
Delhi Police said no permission had been given for a gathering there.
Police warned people not to gather based on misleading social media messages.
Union minister Ramdas Athawale called for sedition charges against people opposing or seeking abolition of reservation.
Athawale said opposition to reservation is opposition to the Constitution and described reservation as a constitutional right.
He cited protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and social media campaigns seeking removal or changes to the quota system.
Protesters at Jantar Mantar carried banners, posters and saffron flags while opposing caste-based reservation.
The protesters sought economic criteria, rather than caste, to determine eligibility for government support and reservation; Delhi Police said no gathering permission had been granted.
- Who
- Union minister Ramdas Athawale, protesters at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, and the Delhi Police.
- What
- Athawale demanded sedition charges against opponents of reservation, while protesters called for economic criteria to replace caste-based eligibility.
- When
- The statements and police warning were issued on Sunday; the report is dated August 24.
- Where
- The protests and police warning concerned Jantar Mantar in Delhi; Athawale’s statement was reported from Mumbai.
- Why
- Athawale said reservation is a constitutional right, while protesters sought changes to the caste-based reservation system.
Athawale’s Position
Protesters’ Position
Reservation’s constitutional status
Athawale’s Position
Athawale said reservation is a constitutional right and that opposing it is anti-constitutional.
Protesters’ Position
The protesters sought changes to the existing caste-based reservation approach rather than relying on caste alone.
Response to opposition
Athawale’s Position
Athawale demanded stringent sedition action against people opposing or seeking abolition of reservation.
Protesters’ Position
The protesters expressed their opposition through a gathering, banners, posters and slogans at Jantar Mantar.
Eligibility criteria
Athawale’s Position
Athawale defended the reservation system and its constitutional basis.
Protesters’ Position
The protesters demanded that economic criteria take precedence over caste when determining access to government support and reservation.
- Speaker
- Ramdas Athawale, Union minister and chief of the Republican Party of India (Athawale).
- Demand
- Athawale called for sedition charges against those opposing or seeking abolition of reservation.
- Constitutional claim
- He said reservation cannot be abolished because it is a constitutional right.
- Protest location
- Jantar Mantar, Delhi.
- Protesters’ demand
- Economic criteria should take precedence over caste in determining eligibility for government support and reservation.
- Police position
- Delhi Police said no permission had been granted for a reservation-related protest or gathering at Jantar Mantar.
- Public activity
- Protesters carried banners, posters and saffron flags and raised slogans against caste-based reservation.
