PU students protest for senate election; politicians, farmers' join them, condemn BJP-led Centre

Chandigarh, Nov 10 (PTI) Panjab University students on Monday held a massive protest on the campus here demanding the announcement of Senate polls, with some breaking through barricades, and jostling with security personnel, who resorted to lathicharge to restore order.

The students' call for the protest became a rallying point for Punjab's political parties, and farmers' bodies, who accused the Centre of trying to "capture" the educational institution.

The PU was turned into a fortress as heavy deployment of police was made on and around the varsity campus. The university's entry points were barricaded and checkpoints were set up on roads leading to the building in the wake of a protest call.

Police refused students entry through Gate number-1 of the university on Monday morning, forcing many to shout "Go Back Chandigarh Police!" Protesters forced their way through the gate despite attempts by the police to prevent them from moving forward.

When some students pushed away barricades erected outside the entry gate, police resorted to caning.

AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang, former Punjab finance minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, former MLA Harinderpal Singh Chandumajra, Faridkot MP Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa joined the protest.

Although authorities later allowed entry through Gate number 1, Gate number 2 and 3 remained shut.

The students, who have been protesting under the banner of 'Panjab University Bachao Morcha', were joined by farmer leaders, who pushed through police barricades erected along the Chandigarh-Mohali border.

According to sources, the PU authorities have submitted a detailed Senate poll schedule to the country's Vice-President, who is the Chancellor of the university, for his approval.

Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) leaders Balbir Singh Rajewal, Jangveer Singh Chouhan, Harinder Singh Lakhowal, Raminder Singh Patiala held a protest near Phase-6 in Punjab's Mohali after they were not allowed to enter Chandigarh, causing a traffic jam on the road.

Later, the farmers broke through the barricades and walked a distance to reach the university.

Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee leader Sarwan Singh Pandher, SKM (Non-Political) leaders, including Kaka Singh Kotra and M S Rai, reached the university to support the students' protest.

Security personnel in anti-riot gear were deployed along the Chandigarh-Mohali border. Barricades were erected and trucks laden with sand were stationed at the border.

Rai said, "We will never allow the Centre to snatch the PU from us." Addressing a gathering of protesters near the Vice-Chancellor office on the PU campus, former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi condemned the Centre and demanded that the schedule of Senate poll be announced.

"The PU is our mother. If anybody harms our mother, then there will be consequences," he said.

He alleged that the Centre was trying to "capture" institutions one by one.

"I congratulate students for this struggle. We will have to fight till the last battle and we will have to be united," he said.

Channi also urged the Punjab government to call a session of the state assembly to discuss this issue.

Pandher accused the BJP-led Centre of trying to rob Punjab of its rights.

Under pressure by students and mounting criticism from political leaders, the Ministry of Education on November 7 withdrew its October 28 order notifying the reconstitution and recomposition of the university's governing bodies -- Senate and Syndicate.

Despite the rollback, on Monday, the students refused to end their agitation and called for a "university shutdown" to press the government to announce the schedule for the Senate elections, which have not been held in over a year.

Chandigarh Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kanwardeep Kaur supervised the security arrangements.

Student leader Abhishek Dagar said the protest would continue till the Senate poll schedule is announced.

Traffic snarls were witnessed at many places in Chandigarh and Mohali.

Meanwhile, Punjab Deputy Inspector General Nanak Singh said no one, who wanted to go to Chandigarh, was stopped. No barricades were erected, he added.

In a statement, Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, attacked the Chandigarh Administration, condemning the lathi charge on students and called it a "brazen assault on democracy." Bajwa accused the administration of converting the university campus into a fortress, with barricades at every entry point.

"Peaceful protest is not a crime, it is a constitutional right," Bajwa said. "The attempt to crush dissent through brute force is outrageously undemocratic and exposes the BJP's fear of student voices." Congress MLA and former education minister Pargat Singh said it was incomprehensible why such a large police force was deployed to stop the students. PTI CHS VSD VN VN