Kalraj Mishra seeks review of UGC rules

Senior BJP leader and former governor Kalraj Mishra’s demand for a review of the newly implemented UGC regulations has brought internal unease within the ruling party into the open, amid widening protests by students and social groups across Uttar Pradesh, resignations by BJP office bearers, and disciplinary action against the Bareilly city magistrate.

- Biswajeet Banerjee

Calling the new UGC framework “highly discriminatory against the upper caste”, Mishra said that while every student has the right to complain about caste discrimination, no single caste should be targeted. He said the present rules violated this principle and urged the government to review the regulations to ensure justice for all.

Anger against the rules was visible on the streets of several cities on Tuesday. In Varanasi, students and members of various organisations staged a protest at the district headquarters. Youths from the Savarna community took out a large march, alleging the provisions could lead to false cases against general category students. Protesters warned that if the Centre failed to amend or withdraw the regulations, the agitation would be taken to Delhi.