"EWS is totally reserved for the 'Swarn' category": SP's Ram Gopal Yadav raises questions on inclusion in new UGC guideline

New Delhi [India], January 28 (ANI): Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav on Wednesday raised concerns over the new UGC guidelines, questioning the claim of inclusive representation. He said while the guidelines speak of accommodating all sections of society through a proposed committee, benefits such as the EWS quota already remain reserved for the 'Savarna' category, asking whether genuine inclusion is truly being ensured.
"All sections of society are included in it. It has been said that a committee will be formed to look into those who may be affected. There are a handful of people who want to seize all jobs in the country, and this is for them. EWS is totally reserved for the 'Swarn' category. So are they included in this?" Yadav said.
This came after new rules notified by the UGC on January 13, which update its 2012 regulations on the same subject, have sparked widespread criticism from general category students, who argue that the framework could lead to discrimination against them.
The new regulations, introduced to curb caste-based discrimination in colleges and universities, require institutions to establish special committees and helplines to address complaints, especially from SC, ST, and OBC students.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday sought to allay concerns over the new UGC regulations, assuring that the law would not be misused and that there would be no discrimination in its implementation.
Speaking to the reporters, Pradhan said, "I assure everyone there will be no discrimination and no one can misuse the law."
Earlier on Tuesday, students in Lucknow staged a protest in front of Lucknow University, raising slogans against the UGC policies.
Earlier, Shyam Sundar Tripathi, Vice President of the BJP Kisan Morcha from the Salon constituency in Rae Bareli, had resigned from his post, citing dissatisfaction over new UGC policies. Tripathi announced his resignation in a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"Due to the black law, like the reservation bill, brought against the children of the upper caste, I am resigning from my post. This law is extremely dangerous for society and also divisive. I am completely dissatisfied with the bill. There is great resentment. I do not support this reservation bill. Supporting such an unethical bill is completely against my self-respect and ideology," read the letter written in hindi. (ANI)