Students continue indefinite strike amid fairs at agri varsity

Despite the vibrant atmosphere of the ongoing Kisan Mela and Pashu Palan Mela at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), student protesters from both PAU and Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) showed no signs of slowing down on Friday.

Agriculture and veterinary students remained firm in their resolve to continue their indefinite strike, staging demonstrations even as thousands of farmers, livestock breeders and visitors poured into the mela grounds. The students, who began their protest earlier this week, are demanding long-overdue reforms, including an increase in the internship stipends and fulfillment of government promises regarding job appointments and departmental vacancies.

At the GADVASU, veterinary interns continued their sit-in at the Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex (TVCC), holding placards and chanting slogans to draw attention to their demand for a revised monthly stipend of Rs 24,310. Meanwhile, the PAU’s students maintained their presence at Gate No. 1, engaging with mela attendees to raise awareness about the lack of action on promised agricultural officer appointments and vacant posts in key departments.

Student leaders said that their protest was not aimed at disrupting the melas but at amplifying their voices during a high-profile event. “We are here to make sure our concerns are heard—not just by the government but by the farming community that depends on us,” said one protester.

As the melas continue into Saturday, the students have vowed to persist until concrete steps are taken by the Punjab Government towards their demands.