New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh is introducing mandatory dress code for around 49 lakh students enrolled in various universities and degree colleges in the state. The move comes at a time when the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections are less than a year away.Uttar Pradesh higher education minister Yogendra Upadhyay announced on Thursday (May 21) that a dress code will be made mandatory in all universities and colleges across the state, as per the directives of governor Anandiben Patel, reported Hindustan Times.Opposition parties have strongly criticised the move, calling it a deliberate attempt to control the youth.Earlier on Wednesday (May 20), the governor had said uniforms should be introduced for students in all universities and colleges. Patel has made the remarks while attending a review meeting of Jananayak Chandrashekhar University, Ballia, held at Jan Bhavan.While it is not yet clear if it will be a specific uniform or a simple dress code, higher education minister Upadhyay said that the move will foster “a sense of equality and discipline” among students.He added that no form of social hierarchy or discrimination should not be evident in the student community, which constitutes a homogeneous group and at times social and economic disparities become visible through attire, which may result in some students developing an inferiority complex while others develop a sense of superiority.“The implementation of a dress code will effectively curb these situations, enabling all students to pursue their studies in an equitable environment,” he said, reported Hindustan Times.Senior educationists such as former Lucknow University vice chancellor professor Roop Rekha Verma have said that the universities should focus more on other broader issues such as vacant teaching posts, ensure regular classes, dwindling number of students, improving the quality of research work and providing better facilities to students rather than coming up with a plan to introduce uniform.“Governor Anandiben Patel and higher education minister Yogendra Upadhyay should understand there is a difference between school education and higher education. Uniform is fine with school kids. But grown-ups should not be confined. See there is no harm in having a dress code but having said that those in power should address much bigger issues,” Verma told the newspaper.The opposition has questioned the announcement highlighting the fact that most universities do not impose strict uniform policies.“Universities are spaces for critical thinking, intellectual freedom and personality development. While the intention behind a common dress code may be to promote equality and discipline, true equality comes through equal opportunities and quality education, not through identical clothing,” said Samajwadi Party national spokesperson Abdul Hafiz Gandhi.“Most universities worldwide do not impose strict uniforms except in certain professional courses. University students are adults and should have reasonable freedom of self-expression within the boundaries of dignity and discipline,” he added.