Lucknow’s political landscape heated up as Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati threw her weight behind the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) controversial new regulations on equity committees in higher education institutions. In a strongly worded post on X, formerly Twitter, Mayawati dismissed the backlash from certain general category groups as nothing short of casteist mentality at play.
The BSP leader’s defense comes amid widespread protests against the UGC’s ‘Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulation 2026’, notified on January 13. These rules mandate all universities and colleges, public and private, to form equity committees tasked with tackling discrimination based on caste, religion, gender, birthplace, disability, and more. Violations could lead to severe penalties, including withholding degrees or revoking institutional recognition.
Mayawati argued that opposition to these measures stems from a deep-seated casteist mindset among some in the general category, who view the committees as discriminatory plots against them. ‘This resistance is entirely unjustified,’ she asserted, emphasizing the need to eradicate caste-based discrimination from campuses.
However, she didn’t hold back criticism of the implementation process. Mayawati urged governments and institutions to consult all stakeholders before rolling out such rules to avoid sparking social tensions. ‘Had everyone been taken into confidence, it would have been far better,’ she noted.
Turning to her core voter base, the BSP chief cautioned Dalits and backward classes against falling for provocative statements from ‘selfish and sell-out leaders’ who exploit these issues for dirty politics. She appealed to these communities to stay vigilant.
The UGC rules aim to foster inclusive campuses by ensuring swift investigation of complaints and strict action against perpetrators. Yet, social media has erupted with dissent, particularly from general category voices decrying the measures as overreach. As debates rage on, Mayawati’s intervention underscores the deep caste fault lines shaping India’s education policy discourse.