Panjab University to meet cops, student leaders on barring political leaders during poll

Akashdeep Virk

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 5

The Panjab University authorities have been contemplating restricting political leaders from addressing students before the Panjab University Campus Student Council (PUCSC) poll. With elections to be held in early September, the authorities are set to hold a meeting with the Chandigarh Police and representatives of student parties and find ways to bar political leaders from interfering in students’ poll. On Saturday, the authorities had organised a meeting to discuss the issue of defacement of non-designated places with stickers and posters.

“We are going to hold a meeting on Wednesday with the Chandigarh Police and representatives of the student parties. The issue of political leaders coming to the campus and addressing students will be discussed there. We will ask the student leaders to let it remain a students’ affair and not involve mainstream political leaders in it,” said Dean, Students Welfare, Amit Chauhan. “We are exploring all angles to implement this effectively,” he added.

For the past few years, some student parties, especially the one with no allegiance to a mainstream political party, have been raising concerns over political leaders’ presence on the campus around PUCSC polls. Last year, on August 23, the students had raised the issue again after a scuffle between student party members and security officer of AAP’s Dharamkot MLA Devinderjeet Singh Laddi Dhose, who had come in support of Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti, AAP’s student wing. Later, the PU had banned political leaders’ entry on August 28, but the MLA had again flouted the norm by entering the campus on August 30.

“If the authorities put a ban on political leaders’ entry on the campus, we will support it. Many mainstream political leaders come in support of their party youth wings. If they are so concerned about student issues, why are they seen only during the elections?” said Balraj Sidhu, SOPU leader.

“Arrival of mainstream political leaders on the campus is not ideal. In fact, it creates a very negative environment and the students get sidelined. The elections are for students and are contested on student issues,” said Amarpal Toor, NSUI campus leader.

Open House banned

after 2009

Till 2009, the university elections had a special highlight, the open house, where the student leaders of different parties used to indulge in debates over various issues related to students’ welfare and campus.

During the open house, each candidate was allotted 10 minutes to speak on his ideology, his priorities after win and past works accomplished. However, this practice was stopped due to incidents of violence involving supporters of candidates. Many students believe that the open house is a better way to understand the contestants and it should be restarted by the authorities.

“We are for open house debate and it should be revived. Rather than influencing students by bringing political leaders and conducting rallies, parties could focus on something constructive to put in front of students before elections,” said Rajat Puri, ABVP leader.

When asked if the open house can be started again on the campus, DSW Chauhan said, “If provisions of the Lyngdoh Committee permit this and the student parties cooperate in conducting the debates peacefully, the open house can be started again.”

If not revived, it would be 15th PUCSC election sans the open house.