Upper caste groups protest at HP Secretariat over UGC notification

Upper caste activists staged a gherao at the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat on Thursday, pressing demands for the withdrawal of a University Grants Commission notification and the dissolution of the Swaran Aayog. The protest reflected ongoing tensions over policies perceived to affect upper caste communities in the state.

Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh was deputed by the state government to engage with the protesters and understand their grievances. The minister's intervention represented an attempt to de-escalate the situation and facilitate dialogue between the demonstrators and the administration.

The protesters' primary demands centered on reversing the UGC notification and dismantling the Swaran Aayog, an apparent reference to a state body involved in social or administrative matters. The specific details of the UGC notification and the composition of the Swaran Aayog formed the core of the activists' objections.

The gherao highlighted the contentious nature of policy implementations affecting different social groups in Himachal Pradesh. Such demonstrations underscore the broader debates around educational regulations and institutional frameworks in Indian states, particularly concerning their perceived impact on various communities.