Delhi2October25*Artistic Protest at Jantar Mantar: Nomadic Artists Fight Karnataka Reservation Injustice

Delhi2October25*Artistic Protest at Jantar Mantar: Nomadic Artists Fight Karnataka Reservation Injustice

Karnataka Nomadic Communities Stage ‘Delhi Chalo’ Protest Over Reservation Injustice

Artists and Activists Rally at Jantar Mantar, Demand Separate Quota and Congress High Command Intervention
NEW DELHI/BENGALURU, October 2: In a striking display of anger and artistry, hundreds of nomadic community members and folk artists from Karnataka staged a high-profile “Delhi Chalo” protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding justice over alleged “grave injustice” in the state’s internal reservation allocation. The protesters have called for the Congress High Command to intervene and rectify what they view as a major policy error affecting their communities.

ಪರಿಹಾರ ಸಿಗುವವರೆಗೂ ದೆಹಲಿ ಬಿಡುವುದಿಲ್ಲ: ಒಳ ಮೀಸಲಾತಿ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಅಲೆಮಾರಿ ಸಮುದಾಯದ ಐತಿಹಾಸಿಕ ತೀರ್ಮಾನ

Artistic Protest Highlights Community Grievances
The protest, held on Thursday, was marked by the vivid presence of folk artists who used their craft to articulate their pain and demands. Demonstrators donned costumes representing mythological figures such as Rama, Lakshmana, Ravana, Durga, and Hanuman, turning the street into an emotional and attractive spectacle.

The demonstration, which ran from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., culminated in a march to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) office. The protesters are specifically demanding a separate 1% reservation quota for the nomadic communities within the existing internal reservation framework.

Dialogue with Congress Leadership
At the AICC headquarters, the delegation of protesters held an extended meeting with Abhishek Dutt, AICC General Secretary, who was representing the Congress High Command.

Responding to the delegation, Mr. Dutt expressed regret for the situation that compelled them to travel so far from Karnataka. “I regret that you had to travel such a distance and endure such hardships,” he stated. He then explained the current constraints on a quick resolution. “Today, our National President, Mallikarjun Kharge, is in the hospital, and Rahul Gandhi is out of the country. Furthermore, many leaders are currently in their constituencies for Durga Puja, making it difficult for us to give a firm decision today. Please forgive us.”

Despite the delay, Mr. Dutt offered assurances to the community. “We are with you, and we will find an appropriate solution to this problem,” he promised. “However, we require some time to determine the best process to resolve this matter. We will arrange a direct meeting with Mr. Rahul Gandhi as soon as he returns.”

Protesters Vow to Stay Until Resolution
Despite the sympathetic dialogue and promises from the Congress representative, the Nomadic Communities’ Federation decided to remain in the national capital until a concrete resolution is achieved.

A federation representative stated, “We understand their constraints and the need for time to finalize the process. However, there is no question of leaving Delhi until a firm decision is made. We will stay here until the Congress High Command intervenes and outlines a solution to this problem. We are prepared to wait for as many days as it takes. We will only return after securing a solution.”

Federation Calls for Sustained Unity and Support
Following the meeting, nomadic community leaders and members convened a comprehensive meeting at the Ambedkar Bhavan. The leaders celebrated a new sense of solidarity among the community’s 59 castes.

“For the first time, the nomadic community has truly awakened. Today, the 59 castes are united as one family,” a leader declared. “We have successfully and powerfully registered our demand in Delhi. We must continue this unity and our fight for justice until the very end. If we let this opportunity slip, we may never get justice.”

To sustain the movement, the Federation issued a call for solidarity, urging “one or two nomadic teams from Karnataka to travel to Delhi daily” to join the ongoing protest.

Disruption Attempt Condemned
The Federation also registered its disapproval of an attempt to disrupt the protest outside the AICC office. They stated that a few “mischievous elements from the BJP” tried to sabotage the demonstration by raising “unacceptable slogans,” attempting to frame the issue as a “BJP versus Congress” political fight.

The Federation committee condemned this “wicked attempt” to politicize their cause and affirmed its decision to exclude such “selfish individuals” from all future protests.

The delegation included hundreds of nomadic community members, representing the Karnataka Federation of Untouchable Communities, including leaders such as A.S. Prabhakar, Bala Gurumurthy, Manjunath, Basavaraju, Ambanna Arolikar, Kariyappa Gudimani, Noor Sridhar, and Sarovar Benkikere.