'Unfortunate how some leaders...': Dharmendra Pradhan on UGC draft regulations

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. (File photo)

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday hit back at Opposition leaders for criticising the draft UGC regulations, alleging they are "twisting progressive educational reforms into imaginary threats to sustain their outdated political narratives".

Taking to X, Dharmendra Pradhan said, "It is both unfortunate and concerning to see how some political leaders, including the LoP, twist progressive educational reforms into imaginary threats to sustain their outdated political narratives."

It is both unfortunate and concerning to see how some political leaders, including the LoP, twist progressive educational reforms into imaginary threats to sustain their outdated political narratives.The UGC draft regulations aim to broaden horizons, not narrow them. They seek

Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) February 6, 2025

"The UGC draft regulations aim to broaden horizons, not narrow them. They seek to include more voices, not silence them. They uphold institutional autonomy and our linguistic diversity. They strengthen our academic institutions, not weaken them. But perhaps these facts are too inconvenient for those who prefer rhetoric over reality," he added.

He also slammed Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and said, "Opposing something just for the sake of opposing it may be fashionable, it may be a good political posturing but certainly petty politics. I would humbly suggest that Shri Rahul Gandhi

and the self-proclaimed champions of Constitution invest some time in actually reading the draft regulations before launching their rehearsed political performances."

The comments by the education minister came following Rahul Gandhi's allegations that the University Grants Commission's (UGC) draft regulations on the appointment of teachers and academic staff in universities and colleges were an attempt to push the agenda of the RSS to achieve its idea of imposing "one history, one tradition, one language" on the country.

The Congress has termed the draft UGC regulations on the appointment of teachers and academic staff in universities and colleges "draconian and anti-Constitution", and demanded that those be immediately withdrawn.

In addition to this, six ministers or their representatives from Karnataka, Telangana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh and Jharkhand (all opposition-ruled states) on Thursday adopted a 15-point resolution on the UGC's draft Regulations, 2025.