Senate issue escalates: Panjab University gears up for potential shutdown on Nov 26

Panjab University (PU) is headed for another total shutdown. In a dramatic escalation this evening, the PU Bachao Morcha — backed by more than 50 student unions, farmers’ outfits, social groups and employee bodies — announced that the campus will observe a complete bandh on November 26 if the University Chancellor fails to officially notify the PU Senate election schedule by November 25 as per the pre-October 30 democratic structure.

The Morcha declared that, as on November 10 when PU witnessed the largest youth uprising in recent memory, no administrative, academic or other functioning will be allowed on the campus on November 26. Further course of action will be announced at the bandh protest rally to be held the same day.

The Tribune broke the PU overhaul story on November 1, triggering a political firestorm in Punjab and Chandigarh, followed by protests that spiralled into a full-scale student rebellion. The Centre was forced to withdraw its controversial restructuring move within a week, issuing a record four notifications between October 30 and November 7. Since then, the campus has been on the boil. PU students have been sitting on an indefinite dharna for 20 days, occupying the lawns outside the VC office, sustained by 24x7 langar from gurdwaras, social organisations and philanthropists serving food, tea, snacks, fruits and even dry fruits.

At today’s mega meeting — attended by over 50 organisations, including major kisan unions, Left and non-Left student groups, employees’ bodies, social collectives and civil society platforms — the Morcha declared that the fight must now spread to all PU-affiliated colleges across Punjab, asserting that PU “belongs to Punjab” and that the assault on the Senate is an attack on Punjab’s rights and the university’s democratic structure.

Participants stressed that the Union Government’s now-withdrawn attempt to reconstitute PU’s governing bodies must be seen in the larger context of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which they said is accelerating privatisation, centralisation and saffronisation of public universities.

‘Democratic struggle, not a regional confrontation’

The gathering also condemned the Central Government’s attempt to “divert the issue by projecting it as a Punjab vs Haryana dispute.” Representatives from several organisations in Haryana attended the meeting and expressed full solidarity, asserting that the ongoing fight is a democratic struggle, not a regional confrontation.

The Morcha said the PU authorities have repeatedly asked them to “wait till November 25,” promising that the Senate election schedule would be announced by then — a claim the Morcha said it no longer trusts after the alleged “vilification campaign”, pressure tactics and continued delay. “If the notification is not issued by November 25, PU will be shut down on November 26 — completely. After that, we decide the next steps,” the Morcha said.

The PU Bachao Morcha also condemned threats issued to advocate Aman (AFDR), a prominent supporter of the agitation, and criticised the Chandigarh Police for failing to register an FIR so far.

The meeting also suggested that, if required, gheraos of BJP offices across Punjab be considered, since “the main struggle is with the Central Government”.

The dharna site today again echoed with slogans of resistance and resolve, with students stating they will “not budge under any pressure or vilification campaign” by PU authorities. The Morcha said they are “fully prepared for the long haul” and will take the battle “to its logical conclusion”.

The agitation received further political heft this week after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann forcefully raised the PU issue before Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the Northern Zonal Council meeting in Faridabad on November 17, where he asserted that PU “belongs to Punjab” and warned the Centre and other states against infringing on Punjab’s rights.

As Day-20 of the protest closed tonight, the message from the Morcha was clear: the ball is now in the PU administration’s and Centre’s court. Unless the Senate poll schedule is notified in five days, November 26 will see Panjab University shut down again — this time with a Punjab-wide mobilisation behind it.

TIMELINE

• Oct 30-Nov 7: Centre issues four notifications restructuring PU governance
• Nov 1: The Tribune breaks overhaul story; agitation begins
• Nov 7: Centre withdraws overhaul move amid political uproar
• Nov 10: PU witnesses largest youth uprising in recent memory; campus bandh
• Nov 1-20: Indefinite dharna continues; massive support pours in
• Nov 20: Over 50 organisations join mega meeting; bandh call announced for Nov 26

WHAT NEXT

• Campus now enters a decisive 5-day countdown for Senate poll notification
• If the administration delays beyond Nov 25, students will enforce a total shutdown
• Agitation now shifts from campus-only to Punjab-wide mobilisation through affiliated colleges
• Political pressure on Centre and PU administration is expected to intensify sharply

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE

• Immediate, unequivocal notification of Senate election schedule
• Cancellation of fresh and previous FIRs against students and supporters
• Assurance to halt any alleged vilification campaign or pressure tactics
• Transparent reaffirmation of PU’s democratic structure and autonomy
• Time-bound roadmap to restore normalcy in consultation with all stakeholders