On Friday, a nationwide bandh was called by the members of the general category community to protest against the newly introduced University Grants Commission (UGC) rules. But in Bilaspur, the judicial capital of Chhattisgarh, the shutdown did not show much visible effect as the key markets and normal operations remained unaffected. Several organisations and groups of students took the lead to hold demonstrations in order to convey their opposition as the day went on.
There was a great resentment towards the new regulations of UGC that was expressed by the representatives of the general category community, and teachers, students and social organisations. The protesters claimed that the rules are detrimental to the education system and they are damaging the interests of the students especially those in general category. According to them, the interests of general category students are not being considered and they wanted the regulations to be reverted at once.
Convener of the movement against the UGC rules Dr Pradeep Shukla stated that the agitation would go on until the regulations were called off. He has also said that a large rally will be held in the city, with which a memorandum will be forwarded to the district administration. Police and their administrative officials are on high alert to keep the situation in check.
The new rules were framed according to the guidelines provided by the Supreme Court after cases associated with the said caste-based discrimination of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi. The rules are meant to ensure that there is no discrimination within the campuses based on caste and any other form.
Nevertheless, the rules elicited intense resistance among some quarters of the general category community in the country, who claim that the provisions might be abused after their implementation. This has resulted in some protests in various regions now.
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