Twin protests: Students hit streets over UGC rules rollout, TRE delay

Patna: The city witnessed two separate protests on Wednesday as students staged demonstrations over education-related issues. While a group under the banner of the All India Forum for Equity protested in support of the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) newly notified anti-discrimination regulations, BPSC teacher recruitment aspirants held a march against the delay in the fourth phase of the Teacher Recruitment Examination (TRE 4.0).The protest in support of the UGC regulations was backed by students and youth wings of Left parties, the Bhim Army and other groups. A large number of the protesters were from Patna University. They took out a march from Gandhi Maidan and planned to proceed to Raj Bhawan.However, the police stopped the march near Dak Bungalow, where they had erected heavy barricades. Police resorted to a mild lathi-charge and detained some protesters.

Bhim Army state president Amar Jyoti, who participated in the protest, warned that if the UGC regulations were not implemented and continued to be discouraged in higher courts, the agitation would be intensified.CPI (ML) leader Divya Gautam said the protest aimed to eliminate discrimination on university campuses.In another protest, BPSC TRE 4.0 aspirants took out a march from Patna College. The protesters passed through Gandhi Chowk, Musallahpur Haat, Bhikhna Pahari, Naya Tola, Machhua Toli and Bakarganj before reaching JP Golambar at Gandhi Maidan, where police barricaded and stopped them.

The candidates raised slogans and staged a sit-in near JP Golambar.Student leader Dileep Kumar said lakhs of TRE 4 aspirants had been waiting for vacancies for the last two years, while the education minister continued to claim that the recruitment process would begin within 10–15 days.“Before and during the elections, it was repeatedly said that the TRE 4 advertisement would be released soon. In the second week of Feb, BPSC issued a notice stating that the requisition had been received and the advertisement would be released shortly.

However, even after more than a month, no advertisement has been issued,” he said.He added that while CM Nitish Kumar was repeatedly referring to TRE 4 vacancies during the Samriddhi Yatra, the delay in releasing the advertisement was tarnishing his image. “In a way, BPSC and the education department are responsible for this situation,” he said.Dileep further said that after nearly an hour of protest, a six-member delegation met the BPSC secretary and examination controller. “Both officials informed us that the education department has withdrawn the requisition for major amendments. A meeting with department officials will be held on March 20. Following that, the advertisement is likely to be released by the end of March once the requisition is resubmitted.

If it is not sent by March 21, we will launch another agitation,” he said.