‘UGC rules anti-Brahmin’: Former Bareilly city magistrate Alankar Agnihotri hints at political plunge

BAREILLY: Alankar Agnihotri, who resigned as Bareilly city magistrate on Republic Day in protest against the University Grants Commission's new anti-discrimination regulations — which he described as "anti-Brahmin and harmful to general-category students" — and was suspended by the Uttar Pradesh govt on charges of indiscipline shortly afterwards amid high political drama, told TOI on Wednesday that his decision was a response to a "deeper leadership crisis within the community".

After resigning, he staged a dharna for being denied entry to meet the Bareilly district magistrate. He has since been attached to the office of the Shamli district magistrate, where a departmental inquiry is under way.




"I cleared PCS in 2019 and, given the trajectory, I could become an IAS officer in a few years. But when Brahmin leadership does not speak up on issues affecting the community, someone has to step forward," the 40-year-old officer said shortly before he was taken from his residence and escorted in a fleet of govt vehicles to an undisclosed location.

Agnihotri described the UGC's new regulations as potentially punitive. "Their [BJP] agenda is very clear: create further divisions in society and make the premises of educational institutions a battleground. It will kill careers and the future. Think of it. A student has a promising career, and he or she is working hard to attain knowledge. Now, with the help of this new provision, anyone can accuse this student of discrimination, leading to legal action against him and the destruction of his career. And who is going to suffer? Obviously, the general category."

He said he had raised these concerns with leaders from BJP. "Brahmin politicians must take responsibility to fight it on the forefront. I asked leaders associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party to resign if they cannot raise these concerns effectively."

Asked whether the move signals political ambitions, Agnihotri said, "Whether I will enter politics or not is a matter for the future. If society feels I should take on a political role, I will consider it. At present, I am only raising my voice for the Brahmin community." He claimed discussions are ongoing in six states and across 75 districts in Uttar Pradesh, where the UGC issue is a primary focus. "We are standing firmly on this issue," he said.

Agnihotri also referred to the recent incident involving Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand as a trigger for his decision. "The insult to Shankaracharya deeply shook me. That incident compelled me to act," he said, adding that he considers himself a disciple of the seer and spoke to him personally before stepping down.

Agnihotri was raised in Kanpur by his mother after his father's death when he was 10. He holds a BTech degree from IIT (BHU), Varanasi, and worked in the private sector for nearly 11 years, including a stint in the United States. In 2019, he cleared the PCS examination on his first attempt after six months of preparation. He is married and has a 10-month-old son. "My life has always been full of struggles but I try to stand for what is right. With that motto I have resigned," he said.