UGC protesters march to HRD Ministry, meet Smriti Irani

The Union HRD minister Smriti Irani on Thursday came out and spoke to the student groups protesting over the issue of Non-NET grants.

The interaction came after the student groups led by Yogendra Yadav, the founder of Swaraj Abhiyan, marched from the UGC office in ITO towards Ministry of Human Resource Development at Shastri Bhawan.

 In the course of the march, a minor scuffle broke out between the student groups of different political ideologies over usage of banners. During the march, the student groups raised slogans against the MHRD, Modi government and WTO, demanding commercialization of education to stop. 

“We ask the students to not display placards as this is a student’s movement against the present  government and not student group of one particular ideology” said Balaji, JNU counselor.

Before coming towards Shastri Bhawan there was also a collision between the Delhi Police and the students.

Kanahiya Kumar,President JNUSU, repeated the three demands on which they would speak with the Union HRD minister.” We would want non withdrawal of Non-Net grants, would want the amount to be enhanced and would also want it to be extended to the state universities” stated Kumar.

Smriti Irani while speaking to student groups outside the gates of Shastri Bhawan assured the students that Non-NET grants for M Phil and PHD students would not be scrapped and the review committee to be formed would only look at the discrepancies involved in the process.

After the interction, Kanhaiya said, “even though we have been assured of Non-Net Grants not being scrapped and it being also extended to the state universities, the minister was found to be rigid in providing a commitment on review committee to be formed.”

“We will now discuss within our student committee to decide upon the future course of action,” said Kumar.