- 10 months ago
On this edition of News Track, Maria Shakil examines two major political and social controversies. The programme first addresses the BJP's criticism of Rahul Gandhi for allegedly refusing to wear a traditional 'patka' during an 'At-Home' reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma termed the act 'deeply insensitive and insulting to the people of entire Northeast'. The second segment focuses on the new University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines aimed at curbing caste discrimination on campuses. Maria Shakil interviews Dr. Suraj Yengde, Professor Chandra Bhushan Sharma, and student Alokit Tripathi on whether these rules ensure equity or deepen divisions. Dr. Yengde notes, 'This new directive, I think we should welcome it simply because it really covers, it backs its policy with data.' The discussion highlights concerns over potential false complaints and the lack of general category representation in equity committees, following the resignation of Bareilly City Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri in protest against the regulations.
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00:00Good evening, this is the news track and we are starting with some piece of breaking news that is coming in now.
00:04The BJP has rained fire on Rahul Gandhi for allegedly not wearing patka.
00:09BJP's IT cell chief Amit Malviya has claimed that Rahul Gandhi did not oblige even after President Draupadi Murmu reminded him twice in the at-home reception at the Rajpati Bhawan.
00:22Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswas Sarma has questioned Rahul Gandhi's solo act of defiance, pointing out that everyone from Prime Minister Modi to foreign dignitaries had worn it.
00:33On the other hand, the Congress Party has pointed out that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was also not wearing the same patka during the event.
00:40So this is a new controversy which has emerged here where Himanta Biswas Sarma has now taken on Rahul Gandhi saying he has insulted the Assamese culture, he has insulted the North East culture.
00:58We have Piyush joining us now.
01:00Piyush, so this is a new front which has emerged.
01:04The question is, Rahul Gandhi could have very well worn a patka which was being worn by one and all there.
01:10Well, that's right, Maria.
01:15What we are now hearing is that it is now taking the shape of a political controversy because what BJP is now claiming that Rahul Gandhi could have, you know, worn that entire scarf but he did not do so.
01:27And this is an attempt to, you know, insult the culture of North East.
01:33A huge post, a big post has also been put out by Chief Minister of Assama, Himanta Biswas Sarma, where he has mentioned about the fact that Rahul Gandhi did so deliberately.
01:43You know, he is also saying that, you know, he is also saying that all the leaders including Prime Minister, President, various top ministers of the government, they all were seen prevailing patka but Rahul Gandhi deliberately did not do so and time and again he has done this and that's why people of the country have rejected him and once again they are going to reject him.
02:03So, it is a very big comment, a big controversy which is now growing up where BJP has now slammed Rahul Gandhi for insulting the culture of North East.
02:12But on the other side, we also have a statement, in fact, a post on social media platform X by Congress Nidar Pavan Khedda who has also said that not only Rahul Gandhi but Raja Singh was also not seen wearing patka.
02:27So, claims versus counterclaims are now coming to the fore and this entire comment and this entire claim has now taken a political turn.
02:35We will have to wait and watch Mariah as to how it is going to further snowball but yes, as far as the comments coming from the Chief Minister of Assam, this is certainly going to snowball into a political controversy where in coming days we will see both BJP and Congress standing outside each other.
02:51No, interestingly, I am looking at what Himanta Biswas Sarma has said in his Twitter handle, he has taken to Twitter to put out that tweet.
02:58He has said that in an act that was deeply insensitive and insulting to the people of entire North East, Mr. Gandhi chose not to wear the traditional patka, a symbol of the region's rich cultural heritage, in the reception which was hosted by the Honourable President of India this evening.
03:16The question is that could Rahul Gandhi have worn it? Yes, he could have worn it. Why did he choose not to wear it is the bigger question.
03:24Piyush, why did he choose not to wear it?
03:31Well, that's right.
03:31The question is that Rajnath Singh was not wearing it is really not an answer here. Rahul Gandhi could have worn it.
03:39Well, that's what the Congress party is now trying to portray. It is now saying that Rajnath Singh was also not seen wearing.
03:45But like rightly mentioned that, yes, the big question is that why Rahul Gandhi was not seen wearing it.
03:50We have also seen various videos and photos, Mariya, where the ministers of Modi government were seen enjoying the North Eastern food, North Eastern culture.
04:00And Rahul Gandhi was sitting right behind the group of ministers and he was sitting with Malik Arjun Khadgi.
04:06Malik Arjun Khadgi, in fact, was seen wearing that patka, but Rahul Gandhi was not seen wearing that patka.
04:10And this is certainly raising a lot of questions as to why Rahul Gandhi decided not to wear that patka.
04:16This is also signifying as to how it is nothing but an attempt to disrespect the culture of North East.
04:24The point here also is that this entire theme of at-home reception, which was hosted by the President of India,
04:32had the main focus on the culture of North East, on the food of North East.
04:36And Rahul Gandhi knew about that. Being a leader of opposition who is sitting on a constitutional force,
04:42he should have embraced the culture of North East and should have wanted patka to highlight as to how,
04:49even if he is an opposition, he could have highlighted the culture of North East.
04:56But not doing so has somewhere raised a lot of eyebrows.
05:00BJP is now raising questions over it.
05:02And various ministers have come out and slammed Rahul Gandhi.
05:05The special comment is coming in from Chief Minister of Assam, Himata Bishma Sarma,
05:10saying that due to this attitude of Rahul Gandhi, people have rejected Congress Party time and again.
05:15All right. Thank you for joining us.
05:17Of course, we'll be seeing other side of the story perhaps play out tomorrow more.
05:21So because Assam, remember, is going to polls in the first round of elections,
05:26which will be held in a couple of months from now.
05:29Shifting focus to our top story now, a new University Grants Commission directive
05:33aimed at curbing caste discrimination on campuses has triggered a nationwide debate.
05:39It was notified on January 13th, the regulations replace our 2012 framework
05:44and seek to protect students from the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs,
05:50economically weaker sections and persons with benchmark disabilities.
05:56At a time when caste-based complaints have risen 118% in five years,
06:01the rules introduced are one of the most expansive equity mechanisms
06:05ever seen in universities of the country.
06:09But it has its own flaws.
06:11From the absence of safeguards against false complaints
06:14to fears of one-sided probe and growing resentment among general category students.
06:21The category, the controversy is now spilling beyond campuses,
06:25prompting protests, political reactions and even a resignation.
06:29As universities begin to implement these rules, a critical question remains.
06:35Will this framework strengthen trust and fairness in classrooms
06:38or deepen divisions in spaces meant for learning?
06:43We'll ask those questions to the guests who will be joining me shortly.
06:46But first, take a look at this report.
06:48A directive issued by the University Grants Commission to curb caste discrimination on campus
07:00has kicked off a row.
07:03On January 13th, the UGC issued new regulations to replace the one framed in 2012.
07:10The new rules are aimed at protecting students from scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs,
07:15economical weaker sections and persons with benchmark disabilities
07:19from discrimination in spaces meant to nurture learning.
07:23The rules define discrimination broadly, covering explicit acts, subtle biases,
07:29structural disadvantage and anything that affects dignity or equality.
07:33Under the new framework, every college must now set up an equal opportunity centre with an equity committee
07:40backed by equity squads, monitoring campus spaces, equity ambassadors in hostels and libraries
07:46and a 24-hour helpline linking directly to the police.
07:51On paper, it's comprehensive equity framework designed for universities.
07:55And there is a real need.
07:58Cases of caste-based discrimination rose 118% in just five years,
08:04from 173 in 2019 and 20 to 378 in 2023 and 24.
08:11But the regulations are not without flaws.
08:15Critics say there is no protection against false or malicious complaints,
08:19no guidance on compensation, counselling or repetition repair for those wrongly accused.
08:26General category students are increasingly emerging as an invisible,
08:30voiceless group within their own institutions, according to critics.
08:35Equity committees must include members from SC, ST, OBC, PWBD and women categories,
08:42but there is no requirement for general category representation.
08:46Critics warn that this would lead to one-sided investigations,
08:49where some groups are presumed victims and others presumed perpetrators.
08:58As general category students and faculty express resentment and stage protests,
09:03the issue is blowing up.
09:05Bareilly City Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri has resigned from his post over the new UGC regulations.
09:11The opposition claims the UGC has mishandled the issue.
09:34The UGC has some clause in which is included in which it will be unpaid.
09:40In this one, they have mentioned some clauses in which it will be unpaid.
09:45So, unpaid is no good for anyone.
09:48It is not good for anyone.
09:50It is not good for anyone.
09:50As universities navigate this new framework, one question looms large.
10:07If classrooms turn into battlegrounds of identity, who will restore trust, fairness and dignity on the learning environment?
10:16Bureau Report, India Today.
10:20Joining me on the show tonight, Dr. Suraj Yengre, he's the author of Caste Matters, he's a scholar.
10:30We have Alokith Tripathi, PhD student from Delhi University.
10:35He's part of the general category student.
10:38We also have Professor Chandrabhushan Sharma, who's an educationist, a renowned educationist, I must say.
10:44Dr. Yengre, I'm going to begin with you.
10:46The UGC says that these guidelines are aimed at creating equity in higher education.
10:55From your perspective, will it actually create the level playing field as the UGC is hoping it will?
11:03Or will it deepen the divides which are already existing?
11:08It's good to see you, Miriam, again.
11:10And I wish the country a happy Republic Day.
11:13I want to pay tributes to all the framers of the Constitution who have contributed and also sing out Dr. Ambedkar for his human service to the nation.
11:21This new directive, I think we should welcome it, simply because it really covers, it backs its policy with data.
11:30And the number that you have just highlighted, you know, 118 percentage rise, which is quite a significant number.
11:36You know, it's not just double, it's more than 100%.
11:38And so this kind of new policy interventions, what does to any institution who is trying to create a level playing field equality is to provide more grounds for people to have a space where they can act and interact with people without any fear of pushback or also any liability that they may have when they have to raise this issue.
11:59You have to understand that these laws come from a place where a student who has overcome so many institutional barriers and then has gone to university and then to have faced the same after even gaining credentials and entering into an educational space is something that's really unbecoming of any constitutional republic.
12:19And I think what these provisions do to us at the moment is to allow us to reflect on and also create a sort of deterrence.
12:27See, any policy is meant or foundational principle of any law is to create deter, is to discourage, is not to encourage any form of violence or discrimination that may come across.
12:37So I think when we see this in light of this broader debate and perspective, I think it's a great welcoming move.
12:44And I think the department and the UGCU has done work behind this, deserves a commendation.
12:49Okay, so you are welcoming it.
12:51What about you, Alokit?
12:53What are your concerns?
12:54And particularly, students like you who come from the general category?
12:58Well, basically, the new UGCU equity, which they included in the guidelines, my according, the definition of caste-based discrimination, the new clause added, they have mentioned as a victim as a victim as a victim.
13:28So the biggest problem is that, apart from that, the other one, the PIL was put in the Supreme Court.
13:37The Supreme Court also mentioned that the OBCs didn't include it at any time, so this is completely a political move.
13:47You see this as a political move, Professor Sharma, as someone who understands policy deeply, do you believe that UGC has struck the right balance here?
14:01Is it, you know, is it, you know, good intention backed by good, the intention is right, but what about execution?
14:11And that's where the big challenge would be.
14:12Thank you, Maria.
14:15Thank you, Maria.
14:16I guess this is uncalled for regulation which the UGC has issued.
14:22As told, the Supreme Court had given a direction to the University Grants Commission to come up with such a regulation in the Vemula case that took place in Central University of Hyderabad.
14:36I have very strong belief that the University Grants Commission failed to convince the Honourable Supreme Court that the case was or the suicide happened in spite of all the measures that we already have.
14:55I don't understand why we are, in spite of the guidelines, which is known as the SEDGs, guidelines for providing equitable opportunity for socio-economically disadvantaged groups.
15:10Why do you need a new regulation?
15:12You already have the Internal Complaints Committee, which is a very, very strong and powerful body on all campuses.
15:20And we have seen on campuses, every complaint is taken very seriously and campuses are satisfied.
15:28Now, you have also made a provision of reimbursement, who is a person of eminence from judiciary or academics, and still you are coming up with this.
15:39I guess, I guess, this is just to satisfy the Honourable Supreme Court, University Grants Commission failed to do its duties in convincing the Supreme Court that we already have these mechanisms.
15:52Now, this is one part of it, Maria, but on a very serious note, I have a feeling as an educationist,
15:58do you believe the complete society and the courts that we are a bunch of scoundrels in the university teaching our students and we don't love our students?
16:08You are asking me to write a note every academic year that I will not discriminate, I will be indiscriminately and I will treat all students equal.
16:19That means you believe that till now we have been discriminating and still students follow us.
16:24Okay, but…
16:25You are making our job very, very difficult on campuses.
16:28Now, we are shifting from term and exam to semester and internal assessment is becoming part of it.
16:35How would we do our internal assessment?
16:36So then, Dr. Yengri, the concerns are legitimate here about the fairness.
16:43And perhaps, there is no need for a provision of this nature.
16:49Why bring it at all?
16:50It is not required.
16:52Dr. Yengri, will you respond, Blay?
16:55Yes, I mean, I think when we are talking about fairness, the premise is that we are a fair society.
17:00That is a very wrong assumption.
17:02We are starting off from a point of departure, which is unfair.
17:06And to set unfairness into motion, we need fairness.
17:10Now, I take the concerns of fellow panelists into consideration and I just want them to take a step back and think about all those vulnerable students, let's say, coming from the hill areas of some tribal land.
17:22And when they are accessing these spaces, enormous institutional barriers are raised and very fast starts, the faculty from the CST OBC community are not there.
17:30Now, Mr. Sharma, Professor Sharma has a student from a background who is equivalent or same background as a Sharma.
17:36He may be able to relate to it, but there is no way I can tell you if Professor Sharma has no access to any tribal land or a Dalit community, will be able to empathize with the live reality of this.
17:47So we have to understand that the faculty position, and in fact, IIM, IITs are lagging behind with faculty, let alone have the representation of SCST OBC students.
17:58Now, taking into this fact, if the whole idea is to set across a precedence of fairness, why is there not recruitment adequate to the SCST OBC population in the positions of faculty teaching as well as the students who are apportioned a certain quota in universities?
18:16And we see there is a big blank check that remains to be filled.
18:21Moreover, when we recognize that the provisions are meant to support our students, especially the kind of bureaucratic barriers that Professor Sharma has pointed out that may create, if we are moving to a semester and we have to write an additional report, I mean, you have to be accountable to that.
18:37That's why students are facing this problem. And if you are somebody who is there to look out for your students, I'm sure you'll have a joy to write a report to say, you know what, I did this and this is the constitutional mandate.
18:48No, but the question here is, Dr. Yengre, that, you know, aspirations of students like Alokit are perhaps being compromised in the name of social justice?
18:59I don't think so. I mean, I don't think Alokit has to worry about it if he's not going to go and commit a crime against SCST OBCs. If Alokit is just being a good Alokit student, contributing to the nature of…
19:11The fact that there are fake cases, there are fake allegations, there are no punishment mentioned for it, there are victims that can be a drawback for it, sir.
19:26No, Alokit, you're right. Maryam, if I may respond to him in Hindi or English, whatever you recommend, I can respond to him.
19:30Whatever you think is right. Please go ahead. He's spoken in Hindi, you can do it.
19:34I don't know. I don't know. But you don't know.
19:39What happens is that every claim is a claim. If the claim is made of the claim, then the claim is not to be the claim.
19:47The world has a claim.
19:49I suppose that you have told me that North East areas or where there are students from there,
19:55if there is a female student who is coming from here,
19:59then the family of the claim is also a claim of the claim of Mahila Sikshah,
20:05which is the claim of Mahila Sikshah, will be reached here.
20:08Now, the claim is to face fake allegations outside the university.
20:13Finally, the claim is to be taken away from there.
20:17For example, I saw a news that the topmost institute is known as a female student.
20:22There will be allegations in the SCST Act.
20:28Now, what we are necessarily seeing here is there is a deep anxiety among the dominant caste students
20:34who are used to penetrating into the system by excouncing their own self
20:40and really dominating within the discourse of their own caste culture.
20:43Now, if people like Alokit are confident that I'm not going to do anything that's going to be against the constitutional value
20:52and other principles, I'll treat everyone equal.
20:54He need not worry about fake allegations.
20:56Let me ask that question to Professor Bhushan Sharma.
21:00I have fake allegations, which are fake allegations.
21:02Professor Sharma first, do you think that the UGC should revisit these guidelines
21:08or should students like Alokit just adjust to the new reality?
21:15Professor Sharma.
21:17I strongly feel that this regulation is uncalled for.
21:22This must be revisited.
21:24And trust your institution, trust your academia.
21:28Instead of this regulation, I will ask one thing.
21:31You say that on the committee we will have three professors.
21:34The UGC, can the UGC ensure that every public university has at least three professors?
21:42You don't have.
21:43You don't have teachers.
21:44You have not filled a position in many states for the last 10 to 15 years.
21:49And you are talking of these committees.
21:51Think about your teachers.
21:52Instead of doing something for the universities, I think this is a political move and not an academic move.
21:58So that question that I asked, because of the backlash that we are seeing, what's the way forward?
22:04Alokit, your response and then I will give the last word to Dr. Yengle.
22:08My recording is a problem.
22:11There is also an equity squad that has been mentioned in 24-7 in a college premises or campuses.
22:17There will be a surveillance on students' words and actions.
22:23So the first thing I think, where the government talks about scientific temperament,
22:29the other way, there are new rules and regulations,
22:32that you can finally get to the country there,
22:36where we were coming from.
22:38And when we will have an undertaking sign of admission,
22:41that we will not do any caste-based discrimination,
22:44that this is what my thinking is.
22:56Okay. I'll give the last word to Dr. Suraj Yengle.
22:59Please go ahead.
23:01Thank you, Miriam, for hosting this panel.
23:03I think what we ought to understand is,
23:05there is a fear within the culprit's mind that I may commit this crime.
23:09So let me just be aware of this and not commit to it.
23:12Sir, the fear and fear can develop anywhere.
23:18I don't know if there are implicit and explicit acts,
23:21and it has not been defined anywhere,
23:23so I don't know if it is implicit for me
23:26or if it is implicit for me or if it is implicit for me,
23:29then it will be a professor, teachers,
23:31and non-teaching staff.
23:33There will be a gap.
23:35Okay. Let Dr. Yengle finish his point, please.
23:37Yeah.
23:38Yeah, sure.
23:39Thank you, Miriam.
23:40I think that's why we need an overhaul of the system,
23:43and we really need this kind of compulsory education
23:45about caste sensitivity,
23:47making students aware, despite their background,
23:49to know about each other.
23:50For, unfortunately, our curriculum is so geared
23:52towards fitting the dominant narrative
23:54that very rarely we see a CEST culture
23:56and their kind of linguistic apologies
23:59that they come with by having their own tone
24:03into this market getting underrepresented.
24:06And so for us, when we see this kind of a policy
24:08that is coming out with certain measures of progressiveness,
24:12we have to welcome the equity.
24:13Okay.
24:14And it's very good.
24:15Okay.
24:16Because we have seen that there is a rise
24:17of 118% of such cases,
24:18and this is the government data,
24:19non-government data exceeds.
24:21So, people like Alokith and others need not worry.
24:24In fact, they have to participate,
24:25think of this space as a democratic space
24:27and a country that has gone far
24:29and you have to think about beyond the caste principle
24:32that would exist in pre-1950.
24:33Okay.
24:34Now, we live in an egalitarian Republic of India.
24:36Okay. Okay.
24:37On that note,
24:38perhaps the right debate to have on 26th of January.
24:41So, Professor Chandr Bhushan Sharma, Alokith,
24:44and Dr. Yangre,
24:45really appreciate your time.
24:46Thank you so much.
24:47And to all the viewers of Newstrak,
24:50Happy Republic Day.
24:51Thanks so much for watching
24:52and I'll be seeing you tomorrow.