Police Deploy Water Cannons to Disperse Karni Sena Protest in Jaipur

Jaipur police used water cannons and limited force to break up a Karni Sena rally that turned toward the BJP office after protesters failed to submit a memorandum at the collectorate.

A protest organized by the Rajput Karni Sena in Jaipur was halted by police who resorted to water cannons and limited force after the marchers deviated toward the BJP office instead of submitting a memorandum at the district collectorate. Led by national president Mahipal Singh Makrana, the demonstrators started at Ravan Gate on Kalwar Road and aimed to present their grievances over the University Grants Commission’s 2026 equity guidelines.

Police set up barricades on Kalwar Road, but the crowd pressed forward, prompting a confrontation near the Khasa Kothi flyover where officers used water cannons after some participants tried to climb onto the vehicle. Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Prashant Kishore justified the response as necessary to preserve law and order. Makrana alleged that the police’s lathi charge and water-cannon use injured many activists, including women and children, and vowed further street protests. The protesters also called for the withdrawal of the UGC rules, a review of caste-based legislation, and changes to reservation policies for economically weaker sections in local elections.