On 10 February, students of the University of Lucknow turned out in large numbers at the New Campus in support of the UGC Equity Guidelines 2026. The protest reflected growing unity among students demanding equality, representation, and accountability in higher education.
Student organisations AISA, NSUI, SCS, and BASF participated in and stood in solidarity with the protest. Despite the demonstration being peaceful and disciplined, a heavy police presence was deployed across the campus. Preventive notices had also been issued in advance, clearly indicating that the administration and police were attempting to intimidate students who are speaking in favour of equity, inclusion, and constitutional rights.
Student organisations strongly condemn this selective and biased conduct. On one hand, students supporting the UGC Equity Guidelines are being subjected to surveillance, preventive notices, and police pressure. On the other hand, protests openly opposing the UGC Equity Regulations, were allowed to take place without obstruction and, in many instances, under direct police protection. If the concern of the administration and police were genuinely about law and order, then why were protests against the UGC Equity Regulations allowed to happen with police protection, while students supporting equity were intimidated?
The central demand of the protesting students is clear and unequivocal. The UGC Equity Guidelines 2026 must be implemented along with the Rohith Act, so that universities are made accountable and marginalised students are provided protection, dignity, and equal access within higher education institutions.
Harshvardhan, Joint Secretary, AISA Uttar Pradesh, stated that the heavy police deployment and advance notices show that the administration is deeply uncomfortable with students raising questions of equality and justice. He said that supporting the UGC Equity Guidelines is not a crime, but because these guidelines challenge entrenched caste hierarchies within universities, students are being deliberately intimidated.
Shubham Kharwar, General Secretary, NSUI Uttar Pradesh, said that students are demanding fair and equal access to education, but instead of addressing these demands, the administration is trying to silence them through fear and policing. He stated that this selective approach exposes the clear bias of both the administration and the police.
Naveen Yadav, President, SCS Lucknow University New Campus, said that the protest at the New Campus was entirely peaceful and democratic, and that there was no justification for such heavy police presence. He stated that the administration must stop treating students as a law and order problem and begin engaging seriously with their legitimate demands.
Varun Azad, BASF, said that when students raise demands for equity and the implementation of the Rohith Act, they are met with notices and police pressure, while casteist and Manuvadi voices are allowed to mobilise freely. He said this makes it clear whose interests the system is protecting.
Amrendra Kumar Ankur, President, YUVA, stated that the UGC Equity Guidelines are a necessary step towards equality in higher education, but whenever Dalit Bahujan students stand in support of these guidelines, the state responds with repression. He said that without the Rohith Act, any talk of equity remains incomplete, and this struggle is ultimately about dignity and justice.
Harish Rawat, National Secretary, SCS, said that what is unfolding at the University of Lucknow is part of a broader national pattern where democratic student rights are being systematically curtailed. He stated that the use of police force and preventive notices against peaceful student protests shows that universities are increasingly being denied the space to question and dissent.
Along with this protest and joint press release, Samar, AISA; Shantam Nidhi, AISA; Aryan Kumar, Student, University of Lucknow; Rohit Kumar, Student, University of Lucknow; Prince Prakash, National Coordinator, NSUI; Ahmed, State Vice President, NSUI Uttar Pradesh; Ranjit Verma, BASF; and Dr. Akhilesh Yadav, PhD, has also expressed their solidarity and support.
Student organisations have made it clear that intimidation, notices, and police pressure will not weaken the struggle for equality. Until the UGC Equity Guidelines 2026 are implemented along with the Rohith Act, and universities are transformed into spaces of dignity, justice, and equal opportunity for all students, this movement will continue….