UGC policy row deepens: Bureaucrat quits, BJP youth leader resigns, minister dodges

The new policy guidelines of the University Grants Commission caused widespread political and bureaucratic unrest, resulting in protest intensification in various states and the government being pressured to respond. What initially was student and teacher opposition has now extended into the political and administrative establishments.

A city magistrate in Uttar Pradesh resigned over the issue, a BJP Yuva Morcha leader quit his position in Noida, and a Union minister faced criticism for publicly avoiding questions on the matter, all these actions signaling that the controversy surrounding the UGC is rapidly turning into a major political flashpoint.

BAREILLY: CITY MAGISTRATE RESIGNS, CITES UGC RULES AND RELIGIOUS INCIDENT

Around the same time, Alankar Agnihotri, City Magistrate of Bareilly, abruptly resigned his post, citing his resentment toward the University Grants Commissions regulations and, in his opinion, an assault on the rights of upper, caste children.

Part of his resignation letter was devoted to the event in Prayagraj where the disciples of Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand allegedly had their hair knots pulled, which only helped stir religious groups' anger.

The bureaucratic reaction has been interpreted as a kind of strange and very dramatic gesture from that part of the government which is normally avoiding any overt political positioning on policy matters.

Just to clarify, from a formal perspective, the governor is the constitutional chief of the administration, but when an officer like a city magistrate resigns, the resignation first goes to the district magistrate and from there it is sent to the state government's appointment department for formalities.

The department is the one that decides whether the resignation should be accepted or not.

There is no set time limit for this operation. The decision may come after a few days, weeks or even months, entirely depending on the government's discretion.

NOIDA: BJP YUVA MORCHA VICE PRESIDENT QUITS, CALLS UGC RULE A 'BLACK LAW'

Adding to the pressure, BJP Yuva Morcha vice president in Noida, Raju Pandit, asked for his resignation from the post with immediate effect, citing his being strongly against the new UGC rules.

In a note, Pandit branded the policy a "black law" and even went as far as claiming that it was contrary to the interests of the children of the upper, caste community.

He said that protests against the UGC's new regulations were going on and that he could not keep quiet about what he considered an unjust policy. So the resignation is a rare example of public dissent from the BJP's youth wing and highlights the fact that even some sections of the ruling party's own cadre are becoming uncomfortable.

HAJIPUR: UNION MINISTER CHANGES TOPIC FROM UGC QUESTIONS, BEGINS SINGING RELIGIOUS CHANTS

On the other hand, in Hajipur (Bihar), Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai was publicly condemned by the mass after the minister dodged questions from the journalists on the new UGC policies.

When the minister was repeatedly asked about the protests and how the new rules would affect education, instead of providing a straightforward answer, the minister kept on chanting religious slogans.

Regardless of the minister's efforts to avoid the question on UGC issue, Rai did not put forward any official statement on the matter.

PROTESTS SPREAD, QUESTIONS MOUNT ON GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

Students, teachers and opposition parties from all over the country have intensified their protests against the new UGC law, raising the issue of its impact on access, equity and the future of higher education.

Though the government has presented the changes as a major reform, its critics contend that the lack of transparency and responsibility is aggravating people's discontent.

With resignations from both the bureaucracy and a ruling party youth leader, and ministers facing sharp scrutiny for avoiding answers, the UGC policy debate has moved far beyond campuses — and the pressure on the Centre to respond decisively is only growing.