EDUCATION PEOPLE

UGC Protest: Akhilesh Yadav Opposes New Education Policy, Calls It a Conspiracy

UGC Guidelines Protest: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav strongly criticized the New Education Policy (NEP) while addressing a protest organized by the DMK students’ wing against the University Grants Commission (UGC) draft rules.

Neha Kumari

06 Feb 2025 13:41 IST

New Update

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav strongly criticized the New Education Policy (NEP) while addressing a protest organized by the DMK students’ wing against the University Grants Commission (UGC) draft rules. Expressing his party’s opposition, he alleged that the policy was designed to benefit industrialists at the cost of public education.

#WATCH | Delhi | While addressing the protest by the DMK students wing against the University Grants Commission (UGC) draft rules, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav says, "...Samajwadi Party supports this protest against the New Education Policy that the central govt is… pic.twitter.com/78frfBgVRG
— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2025

Allegations of Privatization and Corporate Influence

Yadav claimed that the central government’s education reforms aim to hand over universities to private players. Quoting former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he remarked, “If you keep supporting industrialists, one day will come when you'll become the servants of industrialists.” He argued that the NEP is part of a larger conspiracy to transfer control of education from the government to corporate entities.

Concerns Over State Government Authority

Further, Yadav accused the central government of attempting to undermine state governments’ authority in education. He asserted that the policy seeks to centralize power, stripping states of their decision-making role and making politicians subordinate to industrialists.

Samajwadi Party's Firm Stand Against NEP

Declaring full support for the DMK-led protest, Yadav reaffirmed that the Samajwadi Party will never support the New Education Policy. His remarks align with broader opposition concerns over the commercialization and privatization of education under the new framework.

The protest highlights growing resistance to the UGC draft rules and NEP, with multiple political parties and student organizations opposing the centralization and privatization of higher education.