In a dramatic display of dissent, members of the Rashtriya Devbhoomi Party (RDP) and the Devbhoomi Kshatriya Sangathan – Savarna Morcha (DKS-SM) staged a unique protest in Shimla on Wednesday. The activists put ropes around their necks and raised slogans against the central government outside the state BJP headquarters, vehemently opposing the recent amendment to the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations.
Widespread Demonstrations Across Himachal Pradesh
Similar protests erupted in various parts of the state, including Hamirpur, indicating a coordinated effort by the groups. Led by Rumit Singh, the president of the Rashtriya Devbhoomi Party, the protesters laid a siege at the Chakkar-based BJP state office in Shimla. Their primary demand was the immediate withdrawal of the new UGC rules, which they argue could have far-reaching negative consequences.
Threat of Intensified Agitation
The protesters issued a stern warning, threatening to launch an intense agitation if their demands are not met promptly. This comes as various other social organisations have also voiced opposition to the new UGC regulations, suggesting a growing discontent among certain sections of society.
Concerns Over Caste Conflict and Social Harmony
The activists from RDP and DKS-SM specifically targeted the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026. They claimed that these regulations could potentially lead to caste conflict and disrupt social harmony in educational institutions.
Allegations of Bias Against General Category Students
According to the protesters, the new UGC regulations prioritise the protection of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) groups in higher education. They argued that this approach treats general category students as default suspects, thereby overlooking their rights and creating an imbalance in the educational ecosystem.
Criticism of Regulatory Safeguards
The demonstrators also raised significant concerns about the lack of adequate safeguards against the misuse of these regulations. They highlighted the potential for false, malicious, or anonymous complaints being used to target students, which could lead to unfair consequences and further tensions on campuses.
The protest in Shimla, marked by the symbolic use of ropes around necks, underscores the deep-seated anxieties among certain groups regarding the implementation of these new educational policies. As the debate over equity in higher education continues, such demonstrations highlight the complex social dynamics at play in India's educational reforms.
