Rahul, Akhilesh join DMK protest against UGC draft rules-OxBig News Network

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday participated in a protest organised by the DMK student wing against the draft rules proposed by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The protest was part of a larger movement voicing concerns over the UGC’s proposed guidelines for faculty recruitment and eligibility.

Addressing the gathering, Rahul accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of trying to erase India’s diverse history and traditions. “I have been saying for some time now that the RSS’s goal is to eradicate all other histories, cultures and traditions in this country. They want to impose one idea, one history, one language, and one tradition. They attacked the Constitution because they want to force their singular vision on the country,” he said.

He also expressed strong opposition to the Central Government’s interference in the education system, stating, “This attempt to reshape the education system is just another effort to push their agenda. The RSS must understand that they cannot attack the Constitution, our states, our cultures, or our histories.”

Bone of contention

 

The protest has been triggered by the UGC’s draft guidelines, which propose that candidates can qualify for faculty positions by clearing the UGC-NET in a subject of their choice, even if their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees are in different disciplines. The draft also suggests expanding eligibility for vice-chancellors to include professionals from academia, research institutions, public policy, public administration and industry.

The Congress leader reaffirmed his party’s position, emphasising that the Congress and INDIA alliance stand firm in preserving India’s pluralistic identity. “We are clear that every state, every history, every language, and every tradition must be respected and treated equally,” he added.

In his remarks, Akhilesh Yadav also voiced concerns about the government’s National Education Policy (NEP), calling it an attempt to centralise control over education. “They want to take over all the power of state governments,” he said. “They want to turn politicians into servants of industrialists. We cannot support the NEP, and I stand with the students protesting today.”

The protest was triggered by the UGC’s draft guidelines, which propose that candidates can qualify for faculty positions by clearing the UGC-NET in a subject of their choice, even if their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees are in different disciplines. The draft also suggests expanding eligibility for vice-chancellors to include professionals from academia, research institutions, public policy, public administration, and industry.

Meanwhile the UGC extended the deadline for feedback on the draft regulations. The new deadline is February 28, 2025, providing stakeholders with more time to submit their responses.

In an official statement, the UGC said, “The draft UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2025, was uploaded on the UGC website on January 6, 2025. The original deadline for feedback was February 5, 2025, but it has now been extended to February 28, 2025.”