Karni Sena Begins Indefinite Protest, Demands Economy-Based Quota, No Arrest Without Probe

Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena Bhopal president Krishna Bundela claimed the demonstration was organised by his organisation and others from the Rajput community.

Representational Image.

Source : ANI Twitter

The Karni Sena, an organisation claiming to represent the Rajput community, launched an indefinite protest in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, on Sunday, calling for the acceptance of 21 demands, including economic reservation, no arrest without a probe in SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act cases, and a reduction in inflation, news agency PTI reported.

Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena Bhopal president Krishna Bundela claimed the demonstration was organised by his organisation and others from the Rajput community, and that five activists, including Sena MP chairman Jiwan Singh Sherpur, had launched an indefinite, nonviolent fast in support of their 21 demands.

"The activists are demanding reservation should be based on economic grounds so that the poor of all the community can benefit. Reservations should given only once to a family (one generation). Arrest without investigation under the SC/ST Act should be stopped, and a law should also be made to protect the interests of the general category," he was quoted by PTI in its report.

He stated that one of the requests was that food grains and vital goods be exempted from the Goods and Services Tax in order to keep inflation under control.

The uprising would continue until their demands are satisfied, he added, adding that the plan to gherao (encircle) the MP Assembly had been revised following discussions with the administration.

Several lakh people have arrived from various areas of the state, as well as Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra, according to organisations participating in the uproar.

(With Inputs From PTI)