Determined to continue Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) in higher education in the State, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Thursday declined students demand to withdraw RUSA in the State. Terming RUSA to be the best education system for higher studies, CM Virbhadra Singh said that the government might replace RUSA if a better education system was introduced in future, but there was no plan to replace RUSA in present circumstances.

Making an intervention in the post lunch debate in Himachal Assembly, CM Virbhadra Singh said that RUSA had proved the best accepted system for the education. He said that being the best available system, it was prevalent across the country and other states had also implemented RUSA.

Advising students not to waste time in protesting on insignificant issues, CM said "Instead wasting time here and there… the students should concentrate on studies and teachers cannot escape responsibility under the RUSA.” He said that the state government had implemented RUSA to reform the quality of education imparted in the colleges and universities and it had proved to be a better option.

The issue surfaced in the assembly when leader of Opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal said that BJP affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad had lodged a massive protest outside the assembly to press their demand for replacing RUSA and withdrawal of the unprecedented fee hike in the colleges and universities.

Dhumal said that massive gathering of the students was an evidence of students’ unity over the issue and government should concede their demand.  BJP leader claimed that such an impressive gathering of students had never been witnessed as about 30000 students joined the protest.