Police use water cannons to halt Karni Sena rally in Jaipur

JAIPUR: Police used water cannons and “mild force” Monday to stop a Karni Sena-led protest march in Jaipur after demonstrators moved towards the BJP office instead of submitting a memorandum at the district collectorate, officials said. The rally, organised by the Rajput Karni Sena and backed by upper-caste organisations, was held against the UGC’s equity norms 2026.The march began from Ravan Gate on Kalwar Road for Collectorate Circle. Police tried to stop the protesters with barricades on Kalwar Road, but the crowd pushed ahead. Tension escalated near the Khasa Kothi flyover when police intercepted the group as it began moving towards the BJP office.During the commotion, some protesters tried to climb onto a water cannon vehicle. Protesters alleged that police lathicharged them near the collectorate. Mahipal Singh Makrana, national president of Karni Sena, who led the rally, instructed community members to block highways and roads wherever they were after police stopped the march.“We were subjected to a lathicharge. Water cannons were used against our sisters and daughters. This is our govt; yet, it is using water cannons on us; many of our activists were injured. We will sit on the streets and protest; all we want is justice for our children,” Makrana said. “We undertook 800-kilometre journey peacefully from Bikaner, but after reaching Jaipur, we are not being allowed to raise our issues,” he said.Deputy Commissioner of Police (West), Prashant Kishore, told TOI: “After reaching the Collectorate Circle, protesters attempted to enter the collector’s office premises. To maintain law and order, the police used mild force and water cannons.”The protesters are demanding withdrawal of the UGC guidelines, review of other caste-based laws, reservation for the economically weaker sections category in panchayat and municipal elections, and simplification of EWS reservation rules at the central level, among other demands.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Jaipur | Silver Rate in Jaipur | Bank Holidays in Jaipur | Public Holidays in Jaipur | Jaipur AQI | Weather in Jaipur | Petrol Price in Jaipur | Diesel Price in Jaipur | CNG Price in Jaipur | LPG Price in JaipurStay updated with the latest Jaipur news. Download the TOI App.