Mayawati Opposes Economic Quota Push, Urges Governments to Protect Constitutional Reservation

New Delhi, August 23, 2026; Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati has criticised the recent protest at Jantar Mantar seeking changes to the caste-based reservation system, arguing that any move that undermines the constitutional safeguards for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes would be against the national interest.

In a statement shared on social media, Mayawati said reservation for historically disadvantaged communities was intended to address the long-standing impact of caste discrimination and promote a more equitable society. She urged governments not to encourage or protect groups seeking to weaken these constitutional provisions.

The BSP leader also questioned the effectiveness of existing welfare measures aimed at economically weaker sections. She argued that government schemes intended to reduce poverty often fail to reach their beneficiaries because of administrative shortcomings and corruption.

On economically based reservation, Mayawati said a separate framework already exists but claimed that its intended benefits have not adequately reached poor families from economically weaker sections.

Mayawati also targeted the Congress over Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi‘s recent protest outside a police station seeking registration of an FIR in connection with a student-related matter. She questioned why Congress leaders did not similarly engage with those protesting at Jantar Mantar against caste-based reservation.

According to Mayawati, the contrast reflected what she described as the Congress’s continuing approach towards issues concerning Dalit and other marginalised communities. She appealed to political parties and the public to avoid using reservation as a tool for political confrontation.

The remarks came after a sizeable gathering at Jantar Mantar on August 21, where protesters called for a review of the existing caste-based reservation policy and demanded greater emphasis on economic criteria. Police and central security personnel were deployed in the area as a precautionary measure during the demonstration.

Mayawati invoked the legacy of BR Ambedkar while defending constitutional reservation and said efforts to address caste discrimination should remain central to the country’s pursuit of social equality.