PU stir enters Day 21: Countdown begins for Senate poll deadline

The Panjab University (PU) campus today witnessed the 21st straight day of an unrelenting student sit-in, as protesters continued to occupy the lawns outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office round the clock despite the onset of winter.

As temperatures dropped further, students huddled under mattresses, blankets and quilts donated by gurdwaras and civil-society groups, vowing to fight ‘till the last mile’ and prepared for a long haul reminiscent of the 2020 nationwide farmers’ agitation that ultimately forced Prime Minister Narendra Modi to repeal the three controversial farm laws in November 2021.

Now, the agitation has entered a high-stakes countdown to November 25 — the deadline the Morcha has set for the formal notification of the Senate election schedule as per the pre-October 30 democratic structure.

Even as the PU Bachao Morcha continues to insist that the ongoing agitation has “nothing to do with the long-standing inter-state disputes” between Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, the issue has snowballed into an inter-state flashpoint. The recent Northern Zonal Council meeting, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Faridabad, saw Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann staking Punjab’s claim over PU, declaring it the state’s historical and constitutional right, while accusing Haryana and Himachal Pradesh of making “nefarious backdoor attempts” to seize a stake. Mann’s stand hardened political battle lines even as Shah advised Punjab and Haryana to resolve the matter through mutual dialogue.

What began as a resistance to the Centre’s restructuring attempt has now morphed into a turf war of political one-upmanship, with almost every major anti-BJP force rallying behind the Morcha — and simultaneously targeting one another. AAP and SAD have locked horns over their past actions on PU, river-water disputes and the now-repealed farm laws, each accusing the other of “betraying Punjab”. Congress leaders continue visiting the dharna site, slamming police action and calling for immediate Senate elections. Haryana-based groups, meanwhile, insist PU is not a Punjab-only institution and oppose what they describe as “politicisation of the university”.

AAP Punjab general secretary Baltej Pannu said the Akali Dal is now pretending to be the “saviour” of PU even though, when in power, it had formally given written consent to the Union Government for converting the university into a Central University. He said an official government communication exists as proof that the then SAD-BJP government had conveyed it had “no objection” if PU were made a Central institution.

Students today reiterated that Punjab CM’s strong intervention at the NZC has boosted morale, but also underlined that their struggle is independent of inter-state politics.

“This movement is to restore PU’s democratic structure not to fuel Punjab-Haryana rivalry,” student leaders said.

The anger against the PU administration surged again today, with the Morcha accusing it of running a “vilification campaign” and using “pressure tactics” by registering a fresh FIR against students for the November 10 rally — a day when police had sealed all Chandigarh entry points, detained several protesters and used force to block the march. Students alleged that instead of ensuring justice or cancelling earlier cases, PU authorities have attempted to “sabotage a peaceful protest”.

Fresh support poured in today from Punjabi singer Harf Cheema, several Nihang representatives from the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha, and leaders from political, social, religious and farmers’ groups. Civil-society organisations continued supplying 24x7 langar — food, tea, snacks, fruits and even dry fruits — transforming the VC office lawns into a round-the-clock resistance hub.

Meanwhile, the PU administration is learnt to have apprised both the Ministry of Education and the Vice-President Secretariat of the intensifying situation. However, sources indicated that no headway has been achieved so far to break the deadlock.

With just three days left for the November 25 deadline, the countdown has begun for a possible campus-wide shutdown on November 26. Students made it clear that unless the Senate election notification is issued as per the pre-October 30 structure, PU will witness another day of unprecedented mobilisation, followed by escalation of the agitation across all affiliated colleges in Punjab.

WHAT NEXT

Nov 25: Deadline for formal notification of Senate election schedule

If No Notification: Total shutdown of PU on Nov 26, mirroring November 10

Massive mobilisation expected; agitation to expand to all PU-affiliated colleges in Punjab

Political pressure on Centre and PU Administration likely to escalate

WAY FORWARD

Immediate issuance of Senate election schedule as per pre-Oct 30 structure

Cancellation of fresh and previous FIRs against protesters

Assurance to stop any vilification or pressure tactics

Constructive engagement with student representatives

Clear reaffirmation of PU’s democratic, federal and autonomous character