A large-scale march in Patna on Wednesday demanding UGC regulation enforcement and the withdrawal of NEP 2020 saw dramatic confrontations with police. Organized by the All India Equity Forum for Equity, the protest drew students, social workers, political leaders, and participants from across districts, kicking off at Gandhi Maidan Gate 10.
The procession broke through barricades at JP Golambar, advancing to Dak Bungalow Chowk amid heavy security. Scuffles broke out, with police detaining a few agitators temporarily before releasing them. What began as a march culminated in a fervent rally at the chowk.
Protesters slammed the growing caste-based discrimination and oppression in higher education, insisting on expanded and strictly enforced reservations for deprived sections. AISF state chief Sudhir Kumar pointed to persistent bias against Dalit, tribal, and OBC students, noting that despite court cases and reports, authorities have failed to act decisively.
Rinku Yadav, the forum’s state convener, steered the proceedings. Karakat MP Raja Ram Singh took the stage, promising parliamentary intervention and declaring Bihar’s renewed role as the vanguard of social justice battles. Speakers like former MLA Amarjeet Kushwaha and MLA Sandeep Saurabh emphasized that equitable education is the bedrock of democracy, urging sustained youth activism.
The event signals a broader movement against educational inequities, with participants vowing no retreat until justice prevails.