Students stage a protest against the new University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations, near University of Lucknow, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026.
Credit: PTI Photo
Lucknow: UGC’s ‘Promotion of Equity in Higher Education’ Regulation 2026 triggered widespread protests by outfits like Karni Sena, Savarna Sena across Uttar Pradesh even as several BJP leaders resigned from the party to register their protest against the same.
According to the reports, the outfits took out marches in Jaunpur, Deoria, Mirzapur and some other districts raising slogans against the UGC regulations and warned that the agitation would be intensified if the regulations are not scrapped.
The speakers at the demonstrations termed the government as ‘anti-savarna’ (anti-upper caste) and also threatened that the BJP would pay a heavy price in the next assembly polls in the state, due in 2027.
Reports said that at least half a dozen middle level BJP leaders in different parts of the state resigned in protest against the regulation. BJP booth level president of Chaproa in Pilibhit distrct Krishna Kumar Tewari and BJP Kisan Morcha vice-president Shyam Sunder Tripathi resigned from the party in protest against the UGC regulation.
All India Hindu Sena national president Deepak Sharma wrote letters to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that the regulation was in violation of right to equality and demanded its withdrawal.
BJP leader and social media in-charge of Iglas assembly constituency in Aligarh district Kapil pandit also resigned from the party, reports said.