Punjabi University will not be left under financial burden: CM Mann on maiden visit to varsity

Ravneet Singh

Tribune News Service

Patiala, March 29

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on his maiden visit to Punjabi University, Patiala, has said the University will not be left under financial burden. Though insiders anticipated that the CM will waive-off the University’s outstanding bank loan as announced by former CM Charanjit Channi, Mann did not specify on it.

Utter chaos prevailed at the university during the unscheduled visit by CM Bhagwant Mann. Many outsiders attended the event while students and faculty despite having been part of the event were left outside the venue, Guru Tegh Bahadur Hall. Police personnel manned the entry and exits of the hall where the CM accompanied by Education Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer and others discussed university-related matters with the administration and later participated in the event.

People associated with a number of unions also made a beeline outside wishing to submit memorandums to the CM. Mann, rather than taking the main entrance, entered Guru Tegh Bahadur Hall from a side-door.

Mann said “the university will not be left under financial burden” and added that all pending issues of teachers would be resolved. He said no school teacher would be left to resort to pressure tactics and protest atop water tanks. “They will exclusively concentrate on teaching work,” he said.

The CM also honoured noted film director Manmohan Singh, renowned Punjabi actors Yograj Singh, Guggu Gill and Vijay Tandon, singers Mohammad  Sadiq and Surinder Chinda and film producer-cum-director Sumit Kang.

Education Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer assured the university authorities that the Punjab government would provide 100 per cent assistance for promotion of education and sports.

Media not allowed inside

Despite having invited mediapersons to the event on ‘Punjabi cinema, television and theatre’ days ago, Punjabi University failed to allow them inside. University Vice-Chancellor Professor Arvind said it was the Chief Minister’s call not to allow the media inside. When pointed out that the University had earlier sent invites for the event he merely said, “I regret this.”