BRS leaders demand immediate withdrawal of new UGC draft regulations

The draft regulations have sparked nationwide protests. TN CM MK Stalin condemned it as an assault on federalism, while his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan and Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar, despite being an NDA ally, have voiced their opposition.

Hyderabad: The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders launched a scathing attack on the Central government over the controversial UGC draft regulations, alleging that they undermine the federal spirit and State autonomy. Former MP B Vinod Kumar led the charge, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the proposals, which were an encroachment on States’ rights.

“The UGC draft regulations are structured to deprive States of their rightful constitutional powers. We demand a resolution in the Telangana Assembly against it. Today, we sent BRS’ objections to UGC Chairman Jagadish Kumar and will soon meet Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to press our case,” Vinod Kumar stated.

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The draft regulations have sparked nationwide protests. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin condemned it as an assault on federalism, while his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan and Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar, despite being an NDA ally, have voiced their opposition. “It’s shocking that Revanth Reddy, despite being the Congress Chief Minister, remains silent, as does Chandrababu Naidu,” he added.

Vinod Kumar criticised the provisions granting governors the power to appoint university vice-chancellors and altering rules for faculty appointments, empowering the Centre to appoint individuals with little or no teaching experience. “This is undemocratic. States fund universities, but the Union government appoints the Vice Chancellors? It is unacceptable,” he said.

BRS leader Dasoju Sravan charged the Centre with attempting to undermine social justice. “The new rules are a direct blow to students pursuing studies in respective regional languages and aim to enforce a communal agenda by inserting a singular ideology into the syllabus,” he added. The party has submitted a detailed five-page objection letter to the UGC Chairman.

BRSV (student wing) State president Gellu Srinivas Yadav warned of widespread student protests, if the draft regulations are not withdrawn. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is destroying federal spirit of the nation. Why are activists like Prof Kodandaram and Haragopal silent? And why is Revanth Reddy supporting the Centre’s agenda? BRS will not allow this dominance over states,” he said.