India, Jan. 29 -- Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin on Thursday backed the University Grants Commission (UGC)'s regulations on equity in educational institutes, calling it a delayed but welcome step in reforming a system scarred by deep-rooted discrimination and institutional apathy.

He attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying there has been a rise in student suicides at higher education institutions, particularly among Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students, and repeated attacks and harassment of students from South India, Kashmir, and minority communities since it came to power at the Centre.

He said the regulations should be strengthened and revised to address structural gaps and enforced with real accountability if ...