Punjabi University students, faculty protest against farm laws

Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 13

Students of Punjabi University today burned copies of farm laws introduced by the Centre as a mark of protest on Lohri. The festival was celebrated by enacting plays centred on farming, farm laws and harwork of farmers in fields. University professors and non-teaching officials also burned copies of the farm laws at another event during the day.

A protest was also held on the occasion by students associated with political parties, including Punjab Radical Student Union (PRSU), Democratic Students’ Organisation (DSO) and All India Research Scholar Association (AIRSA).

Balkar Singh, a student leader of the DSO said, “We are burning copies of the three farm laws after a call given by farmers’ unions.”

Sandeep Kaur, state president, PRSU, said, “The festival of Lohri is associated with the common man. Dulla Bhatti according to Punjabi folklore was the saviour of the people, which carries significance in the Lohri folklore. Today’s festival is associated with raising voice for the people and as such we are burning copies of the farm laws.”

A similar protest over the farm laws was organised by teaching and non-teaching faculty members of the university during the day. Avneet Pal Singh, PUTA secretary, said, “We burnt copies of farm laws as they are against the farmers’ community and common people.”

The teaching and non-teaching faculty members of the university were supporting farmers in their protest against the farm laws, he added.

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