Brajesh Pathak meets Reservation Hatao Andolan delegation, assures Centre’s intervention

New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Saturday met Harsh Dubey and a delegation associated with the Reservation Hatao Andolan, a day after a large protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar seeking changes to the caste-based reservation system. Pathak, who addressed a press conference in Lucknow alongside Dubey and other members of the delegation, said their demands had been conveyed to the Centre and would be considered “very seriously”. He also assured the delegation that a meeting with a Union minister would be arranged within two days so that the protesters could directly place their concerns before the central government. “We have submitted that letter to our Central leadership, and the Central leadership has assured us that they will consider the demands of our youth who sat at Jantar Mantar very seriously,” Pathak said. He added that the government would ensure that “no harm” came to students and young people and said he would accompany the delegation when it meets the Union minister. In a post on X after the meeting, Pathak described Dubey as leading the “reservation reform movement” at Jantar Mantar and reiterated that the delegation’s demands would be placed before the central leadership. नई दिल्ली के जंतर-मंतर पर आरक्षण सुधार आंदोलन का नेतृत्व कर रहे श्री हर्ष दुबे जी के साथ आज लखनऊ में पत्रकार वार्ता कर छात्रों के प्रतिनिधिमंडल की मांगों एवं उनकी चिंताओं को गंभीरता से सुनते हुए उन्हें आश्वस्त किया कि आगामी दो दिनों में उनकी मांगों को केंद्रीय नेतृत्व के समक्ष... pic.twitter.com/qi2fJZ5flE — Brajesh Pathak (@brajeshpathakup) August 22, 2026 “Our government is committed to the bright future of the students. There will be no injustice to any student. Our government will move forward taking everyone along,” Pathak said. The meeting marked the first significant political outreach to the protesters following Friday’s mobilisation at Jantar Mantar. The August 21 demonstration was led by Dubey and Abhishek Agnihotri and drew students and supporters seeking reforms in the existing reservation framework. Protesters also raised objections to the UGC equity norms, while sections of the gathering demanded that economic conditions be given greater weight in determining reservation benefits. Delhi Police had said a day before the protest that permission had not been granted for a demonstration at Jantar Mantar. As protesters gathered on Friday, police subsequently offered Ramlila Maidan as an alternative venue and issued a no-objection certificate allowing up to 500 people to demonstrate there until 4 pm. The protesters, however, remained at Jantar Mantar. Police and Rapid Action Force personnel later cleared the site around 7.30 pm, with some protesters detained and subsequently released.