Delhi Faces Water Rationing Crisis In The Heights Of Jat Caste Unrest

India's capital Delhi faces a looming severe water crisis in recent years after a key supply was shut down as a result of protests by members of a rural caste that ended up in violence that caused 21 people dead due to rioting and arson.

Protesters from the Jat community damaged Munak canal in Haryana that delivers water to Delhi's treatment facility. It was triggered by disputes over the fear of losing guaranteed jobs under India's controversial caste quota system.

"We are here to die. We will keep going until the government bows to the pressure. There is no way we will take back our demands," said Rajendra Ahlavat, a 59-year-old farmer and protest leader as mentioned in a report by Sydney Morning Herald.

Due to the cut-off of the much-needed water supply, the city implemented strict rationing of water but supplies could run dry sooner if the problem escalates.

"Water to be equally rationed amongst all. Please save water. Schools closed tomorrow," said Delhi's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as quoted by The Guardian.

To stave off attempts at further destabilizing the situation, the federal government has just deployed around 4, 000-5, 000 security personnel to ensure the end to protests and other similar acts that threaten peace and order.

What were the protests all about?

In a nutshell, the 1950 Indian constitution initiated largest and perhaps the oldest affirmative action program guaranteeing certain castes and tribes in the country's rigid caste hierarchy both equality of opportunities and secure economic outcomes as well as reserved spots in schools, government jobs, and parliament representation. The idea was to compensate for thousand-year-long socio-economic discrimination based on birth status.

According to a report by BBC, the Indian Supreme Court controversially ruled that Jat community the Other Backward Castes (OBC) entitling them to government quota jobs only to be quashed by the high court.