Bareilly, January 26 (IANS). In a dramatic development on the occasion of Republic Day, Bareilly Municipal Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri resigned from his post expressing concern over the treatment of revered saints and alleged discrimination against upper castes under the new University Grants Commission (UGC) rules.
Agnihotri submitted his resignation to the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, saying his decision was based on ‘self-respect,’ conscience, and accountability to society rather than any personal or professional interest.
In his resignation letter, he strongly condemned the incident at Prayagraj Magh Mela, where disciples of Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwarananda Saraswati of Jyotish Peeth, who were protesting against entry into the Sangam for the holy bath on Mauni Amavasya, were allegedly assaulted and dragged by their hair.
Describing this act as a grave insult to Brahmins and saints, Agnihotri raised the question whether the administration was tacitly supporting the oppression.
He also used strong words in the letter, which he termed targeted harassment and discrimination. He called this incident a blot on humanity.
Linking the controversy to broader grievances, Agnihotri criticized the University Grants Commission’s Promotion of Equality in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026.
He claimed that certain provisions, particularly Articles 2, 5, 6 and 7, are exploitative and discriminatory against general category students, especially those from the Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Kayastha and Bhumihar communities.
Comparing these guidelines to the colonial-era Rowlatt Act (1919), he alleged that they could be misused to harass and target upper caste youth through conspiracies and false cases.
At the same time, in a press conference, he also made serious allegations against the district administration. He said that District Magistrate Avinash Singh had called me for talks. The District Magistrate called the police captain. He said that during the talks I was asked and tempted to go on leave. He alleged that his intention was to link my resignation to pressure from the SIR.
They alleged that an attempt was being made to take me hostage, but I somehow came out of there. He said that my life is in danger, so I will have to vacate the house.
He appealed to the President and the Governor through the media that I had resigned voluntarily, but an attempt was made to declare me mentally insane. An attempt was made to link my resignation to pressure from SIR. An attempt was being made to divert my resignation to the other side.
He said that an attempt was made to take me hostage by calling me, which is a direct murder of democracy.
–IANS
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