‘Attempt to impose RSS ideology’: Rahul Gandhi on UGC draft rules

Addressing the gathering, Gandhi criticised the RSS and the ruling government’s approach towards India’s diverse cultural and linguistic heritage.

“We, in the Congress and INDIA alliance, are very very clear that every single state must be respected. Every history, language and tradition must be respected and all of them must be treated equally. In our manifesto, we already said that education will be brought back to the state list, and this is something we are committed to,” said Gandhi.

“We do not accept the RSS’s vision of this country… No matter how hard they try, what fantasies they have, this nation is not going to accept the RSS ideology,” he said.

The protest saw participation from various student organisations and Opposition leaders, who said the UGC’s new regulations could undermine the autonomy of state education boards and institutions.

Akhilesh Yadav said the BJP-RSS “wanted to take over all the power of state governments”.

“They want to make politicians servants of industrialists. We can never support the new education policy… I am supporting all the students here and the decision that you have taken. I am against the NEP (National Education Policy). I am against the BJP,” he said.