Jaipur, Jan. 29 -- Several upper-caste outfits including that of Brahmins, Rajputs, Jains, and Baniyas in Rajasthan held a protest on Wednesday and called for a Bharat Bandh from February 1 over the recent Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026 notified by the University Grants Commission of India (UGC). Vice president of Brahmin Mahasabha, Kanhaiyalal Pareek, said, "Recently, UGC has laid out some provisions in its latest regulation but it appears to be widening the existing caste-based discrimination in our system. It is an attempt to divide the different communities of Hindu religion. We strongly oppose this law. We are calling upon everyone to join a Bharat Bandh on February 1 to protest against this law." The former Jodhpur district president of the outfit, Hastimal Saraswat, also said this law is a "conspiracy" by some politicians. "The city magistrate of Bareilly has also resigned in protest against this law. It proves that the civilised society of our country is completely against this law. This attempt to divide the society is extremely concerning. The government must reconsider this law," he said. A group of protesters belonging to Brahmin Mahasabha, Savarana Samaj, Vipra foundation, and Karni Sena also took out a protest rally in Kota, Alwar, and Jodhpur on Wednesday and demonstrated in front of the district collectors. National vice president of Vipra Foundation in Kota said this law has created a fearful ambience across the country and so the government must repeal it. The Alwar district president of Karni Sena, Gajendra Singh Narooka, also said, "UGC's rules are against the very interest of the students from the general categories. It will affect their future. We call upon the people from every community to join this protest." On Tuesday, Union education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, assured everyone that it will ensure "no harassment and no discrimination". After attending a religious event of Jain communities in Nagaur, Pradhan told reporters, "I want to assure everyone that there will be no harassment and no discrimination under this new law. Nobody will have the right to misuse the system in the name of discrimination." The new rules notified by the UGC on January 13 have sparked widespread criticism primarily from general category students who argue that the framework could lead to discrimination against them. Under the new regulations, introduced to stop caste-based discrimination in colleges and universities, the UGC has asked institutions to set up special committees, helplines and monitoring teams to handle complaints, especially from SC, ST and OBC students....