Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Chirag Paswan Defends Reservation Amid Jantar Mantar Protests
Chirag Paswan said India’s reservation system should not be abolished because it is protected by the Constitution.
He said reservation is not charity given by the government.
He explained that it was created to help communities that faced unfair treatment for many generations.
He specifically mentioned Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Paswan said discrimination still happens today.
Students were protesting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, although one report described their demand as reforms rather than abolition.
He said people involved in the disagreement should be heard.
He believes discussion is better than confrontation.
He said dialogue could help explain why reservation was created and why he thinks it is still needed.
Union Minister Chirag Paswan rejected demands to abolish India’s reservation system.
He said reservation is a constitutional right, not charity or a government concession.
Paswan said reservations address generations of discrimination against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
He argued that continuing social discrimination makes affirmative action and social justice relevant.
Paswan urged dialogue with protesters, while reports differed on whether the protests sought abolition or reforms.
- Who
- Union Minister Chirag Paswan, students protesting at Jantar Mantar, and other political figures mentioned in the reports, including Ramdas Athawale and Mallikarjun Kharge.
- What
- Paswan defended the reservation system, rejected calls for its abolition, and called for dialogue with protesters.
- When
- Friday; one report dates Paswan’s comments to August 23.
- Where
- Paswan spoke at Patna airport before travelling to Delhi; the protests were held at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
- Why
- Paswan said reservation addresses long-standing social discrimination and remains necessary because discrimination continues.
Defend Reservation
Abolish Or Reform Reservation
Whether the system should continue
Defend Reservation
Paswan says reservation cannot be ended at someone’s demand because it is a constitutional provision created to address generations of discrimination.
Abolish Or Reform Reservation
Students were reported as protesting at Jantar Mantar; one report says they demanded abolition, while another describes the demand as reforms to the reservation system.
How the disagreement should be handled
Defend Reservation
Paswan says concerns should be addressed through dialogue and that discussion can explain the historical purpose of reservation.
Abolish Or Reform Reservation
The protesters are seeking changes to the system, but the reports do not provide a detailed explanation of their reasons or preferred alternative.
- Speaker
- Union Minister Chirag Paswan
- Main issue
- Demands to abolish or reform the reservation system
- Paswan’s position
- Reservation is a constitutional provision and not charity or a government concession
- Communities mentioned
- Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
- Protest location
- Jantar Mantar, Delhi
- Paswan’s proposed response
- Dialogue and discussion rather than confrontation
- Related political discussion
- The reports also mention comments by Ramdas Athawale and an incident involving Mallikarjun Kharge
