Saharanpur: A proposed Swarn Samaj padyatra in Saharanpur’s Badgaon area was stopped by police and administrative officials shortly after it began on Tuesday, September 1, with protesters seeking to raise concerns over the UGC framework, reservation policies and the SC/ST Act.
The march was scheduled to begin from the Thakur Dwara temple in Mora village and proceed towards the Ramput Maniharan tehsil. However, citing the absence of official permission, authorities deployed police personnel and PAC forces and stopped the participants at the Gangnahar bridge, around 100 steps from the starting point.
Officials, including SDM Ramput Maniharan Yogesh Kumar Gaur and CO Deoband Amit Singh, appealed to the participants not to proceed. Despite this, several youths carrying banners began marching and raised slogans including “UGC Rollback” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.” A minor altercation and verbal exchange reportedly took place between the protesters and police.
The gathering later witnessed disagreement among members of the Swarn Samaj over the submission of a memorandum. District president of the Bharatiya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan, Thakur Ajab Singh, submitted a memorandum addressed to the President, demanding withdrawal of the UGC law and a review of reservation provisions and the SC/ST Act.
Some youths objected that the memorandum had been submitted without adequate consultation with the wider community. The disagreement led to arguments and the gathering eventually dispersed, with the protesting youths returning home.
