Rahul, Akhilesh to join DMK’s protest against UGC draft rules in Delhi | Latest News India

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav will participate in a protest, organised by the Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK, against the University Grants Commission (UGC) draft rules on Thursday in Delhi.

Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, Manoj Jha (RJD), John Brittas (CPI) (M), and Thol Thirumavalavan (VCK) are some of the opposition leaders who will participate in the protest, DMK student wing secretary CVMP Ezhilarasan told reporters in New Delhi.

The protest by the DMK students wing will be held at the Jantar Mantar, a few hundred metres away from the Parliament complex. Student organisations of various opposition parties will also take part in it.

The protest comes a month after the Tamil Nadu assembly on January 9 passed a resolution demanding that the Centre immediately withdraw the regulations. Barring the BJP, the resolution was supported by all parties, including NDA ally Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and Tamil Nadu’s main opposition the AIADMK.

“The draft UGC rules are nothing but an attempt by the Union Government to usurp universities that state governments have built using their own resources and economic strength. The rules are against federalism,” chief minister MK Stalin had said at the time. On January 20, Stalin wrote to Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan urging the withdrawal of the draft UGC and in a separate letter he urged his counterparts in non-BJP ruled states to pass resolutions against the Centre’s move.