Martyrdom day of Guru Teg Bahadur: Nod for seminar cancelled, says MP; PU denies

Anandpur Sahib MP Malvinder Singh Kang on Sunday accused the Panjab University (PU) administration of “cancelling” permission to hold a seminar dedicated to 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur, a charge denied by the university authorities.

A student political group, Sath, had planned to host a lecture on October 27, alongside a discussion on “current political affairs of India and human rights”.

Amarjeet Singh Khalra and Sikh political thinker Ajmer Singh were invited to the event . “The martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur is not only for the Sikh community but for all humanity. His sacrifice is unparalleled and unmatched. Guru Sahib not only sacrificed his life for the protection of religion, but also for safeguarding the culture and humanity of this nation,” said Kang, a former student of the PU, who has twice served as the president of the Student Council.

The university authorities, meanwhile, said the organisers had been told to submit the necessary documents and no “refusal” had been given on record by any university officials.

“As per the rules, if a person is invited to any seminar his/her CV gets attached with the request, citing his/her contribution towards the topic. It has been cross-checked with the office of the university registrar and no refusal has been issued. However, the documentation is needed to be completed as per the rules,” said a university official.

Meanwhile, Kang alleged that the university administration took this decision under pressure. “I am aware that the VC is under pressure from Delhi. The BJP-led Central government does not want the history and inspiring legacy of Guru Sahib’s martyrdom to reach the younger generation,” he said. "On one hand, the nation is remembering the sacrifice of the ‘Hind di Chadar’, while on the other hand, in Punjab's own university, discussions on his history are being prohibited.”

Kang claimed that he came to know from students that the administration had cancelled the permission for the seminar, scheduled for October 27, owing to the participation of renowned Sikh scholar and thinker Ajmer Singh, who is being labelled as controversial.

Rejecting this reasoning outright, Kang said Ajmer has been in public life for over three decades, has no case registered against him, and has delivered lectures at universities in India and abroad. “Barring him from speaking is a direct attack on academic freedom,” Kang said.

Kang described this as part of a series of incidents like the removal of Jaswant Singh Khalra's photograph which, he said, were attempts to suppress the voices of Punjab’s youth and Sikh heritage.

Kang stated that he had written a letter to VC Prof Renu Vig, urging her to allow the students to organise the seminar dedicated to the unmatched sacrifice of the “Hind di Chadar” without any political pressure. “The university must rise above this narrow-minded approach and immediately restore permission for the seminar,” he stated.