> Well meritocracy means we will try to select and give influence/recognition based on merit. When someone tries to push an idea like "let's have more Asians" or "let's have more men" ...

Isn't the argument normal something more like: "I don't think we are living up to the description of meritocracy. Our demographics lean heavily one direct and we lack female/male/asian/<descriptor> for no merit based reason. Lets do something about that."

The core of such arguments are an attempt to support/bolster meritocracy.