Nadda Meets Group Demanding Income-Based Quotas in Lieu of Caste Reservations
· India · Hindustan Times, India Today, Indian Express
Union minister JP Nadda met on Thursday with three representatives of Reservation Hatao Andolan, a group that protested at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on August 21 demanding that quotas in public education and government jobs be based on economic grounds, disability, or family status rather than caste. Nadda confirmed on X that the meeting was cordial and said the two sides would meet again, but he did not specify the agenda or what was discussed. Harsh Dubey, one of the representatives, said the group is not against any community and is pushing for equal opportunity through peaceful, democratic means. The protest came ahead of assembly elections in five states including Uttar Pradesh, placing the BJP-led central government in a politically delicate position. Nadda had previously negotiated with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), whose protests over exam irregularities led to then education minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation in July.
Why it matters
A shift toward income-based quotas would directly affect OBC, SC, and ST beneficiaries of India's reservation system, which currently allocates 27% to OBC, 15% to SC, 7.5% to ST, and 10% to EWS. The movement adds pressure on the BJP ahead of key state elections and risks deepening internal party divisions over outreach to young voters.
Read the original report — Hindustan Times
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