CPI(M) Alleges RSS Misusing UGC Guidelines to Deepen Caste Fault Lines in Academia
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has leveled serious allegations against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), accusing the organization of exploiting University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations to deliberately stir up caste-based divisions within India's educational landscape. In a strongly worded statement, the party has appealed to students across the nation to maintain unity and solidarity against what it describes as divisive tactics.
Constitutional and Judicial Foundations of UGC Regulations
The CPI(M) clarified that the UGC regulations in question are firmly rooted in Article 14 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the laws to all citizens. The party emphasized that these regulations represent a direct response to observations made by the Supreme Court of India, similar to the 2012 Regulations that were also instituted following judicial directives.
According to the CPI(M), these regulatory frameworks are designed to promote social justice and inclusivity within higher education institutions. The party insists that they must be enforced in both letter and spirit, without allowing any external forces to manipulate them for ulterior motives. This enforcement, they argue, is crucial for upholding the constitutional mandate of equality and preventing discrimination based on caste, creed, or religion.
Call for Student Vigilance and Collective Resistance
In its appeal, the CPI(M) urged students to remain vigilant against attempts to fragment campus communities along caste lines. The party highlighted the importance of:
- Fostering an environment of mutual respect and understanding among students from diverse backgrounds.
- Resisting any efforts to polarize educational spaces for political or ideological gains.
- Upholding the spirit of the Constitution and Supreme Court directives in everyday campus life.
The CPI(M) statement underscores a broader concern about the potential misuse of administrative and regulatory mechanisms to sow discord. By linking the current UGC regulations to the 2012 precedent, the party aims to reinforce the continuity of legal and constitutional commitments to social justice, while warning against subversion by groups like the RSS.
This development comes at a time when issues of caste discrimination and social harmony in educational institutions remain highly sensitive and politically charged. The CPI(M)'s intervention seeks to mobilize student consciousness around unity, framing it as a defense of constitutional values against divisive exploitation.
