Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Chirag Paswan defends caste quotas as upper-caste protests grow
Chirag Paswan said caste-based reservations are protected by the Constitution.
He said reservations are meant to address discrimination and unequal opportunities, not to give charity.
Some protesters in Delhi want reservations to depend only on a person’s economic situation.
They also want changes to rules about caste discrimination and affirmative action.
These protests may create a political challenge for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh.
Some leaders support keeping reservations, while others are protesting against them.
Paswan said discrimination against Dalits still exists in parts of society.
He also said dividing beneficiaries into groups could make it harder for them to defend reservations.
Union minister Chirag Paswan said caste-based reservation is a constitutional right that cannot be abolished.
Anti-reservation protesters in Delhi are demanding quotas based on economic criteria rather than caste.
The protests could create political difficulties for the BJP among its upper-caste, OBC and Dalit constituencies in Uttar Pradesh.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak has opened talks with protesters, while several leaders oppose ending or reviewing reservations.
Paswan rejected a reservation “creamy layer,” arguing that sub-classification could weaken Scheduled Caste unity and strengthen opponents of quotas.
- Who
- Union minister Chirag Paswan, anti-reservation protesters, BJP leaders and leaders opposing changes to reservations.
- What
- A dispute over caste-based reservations, including demands to replace them with economically based quotas and Paswan’s defense of the existing system.
- When
- Paswan made his remarks on Monday; protests took place on Friday and Sunday, ahead of next year’s Uttar Pradesh elections.
- Where
- The remarks were made at a national conclave; protests occurred in Delhi, including around Connaught Place and Jantar Mantar.
- Why
- Protesters seek quotas based on economic criteria, while Paswan says reservations remain necessary because caste discrimination and unequal opportunities continue.
Reservation supporters
Anti-reservation protesters
Basis of quotas
Reservation supporters
Paswan and other leaders say caste-based reservation is a constitutional right needed because caste discrimination and unequal opportunities persist.
Anti-reservation protesters
Protesters want quotas to be based on economic criteria rather than caste.
Whether reservations should be reviewed
Reservation supporters
Paswan, Upendra Kushwaha, Chandrashekhar Azad and Akhilesh Yadav have opposed ending or reviewing reservations.
Anti-reservation protesters
Protesters are demanding an end to caste-based reservations and changes to affirmative-action policies.
Creamy layer and sub-classification
Reservation supporters
Paswan says a creamy layer or sub-classification could divide Scheduled Castes and weaken their ability to defend reservations.
Anti-reservation protesters
The protest movement is seeking broader changes to reservation laws and policies, though the article does not specify a unified position on the creamy-layer proposal.
- Paswan’s position
- He said no power can abolish caste-based reservation because it is a constitutional right.
- Protesters’ demand
- They want caste-based quotas replaced with quotas based solely on economic criteria.
- Protest locations
- Protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar and marched from Connaught Place; police stopped Sunday’s march because it lacked permission.
- Political concern
- Growing upper-caste opposition could create difficulties for the BJP among its OBC and Dalit constituencies in Uttar Pradesh.
- Government response
- Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak has opened talks with protesters.
- Economically weaker sections quota
- The Modi government introduced a 10% reservation for economically weaker sections among upper-caste groups.
- Paswan on creamy layer
- He opposed introducing a creamy layer within reservation, saying it could weaken collective representation among Scheduled Castes.