Chandigarh- Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal today said the party would wholeheartedly support the November 10 joint protest against the union government’s decision to end democracy in PU and bring it directly under central control.
Interacting with students on dharna against the central notification seeking to change the fundamental character of Panjab University in the University campus, Mrs Harsimrat Badal said “this notification, which has been kept in abeyance temporarily in the wake of all round condemnation, seeks to not only end democracy in the functioning of the Panjab University, but also seeks to irreversibly dilute Punjab’s control over the institution”.
Assuring students that the SAD would not allow the conspiracy to succeed at any cost, Mrs Badal said “we will jointly protest with you to ensure the notification is withdrawn completely”.
The Bathinda MP also spoke on how Punjab’s rights were being snatched by the centre. She said recently the central government had diluted Punjab’s control over the Bhakra Beas Management Board by deciding to appoint two whole time members from Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh to its Board. “Now by ending elections in the Syndicate and turning the Senate into a body of nominated and ex-officio members the centre has taken direct control over the Panjab University which is part of the heritage of Punjab”.
Mrs Badal said it was condemnable that Punjabis had not even been consulted before taking this step. She said as many as 200 Colleges from Punjab were affiliated with the Univeristy besides colleges of Chandigarh. She said Punjabis not only had a right to manage the affairs of the University but also its appointments as well as syllabi which would be taught in these institutions. It’s unfortunate all this is being taken out of our hands”, she said while describing it as an attack on the State’s identify.
Student leaders while speaking on the occasion urged the SAD to lead the fight against the notification being a regional party. Mr Parambans Romana, who was also present on the occasion, said SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal would also visit the University even as he assured that youth workers of the party from both the Youth Akali Dal and the Students Organization of India would assist agitating students in their fight for justice on this issue. “We are committing to safeguarding the interests of Punjab and will take this fight to its logical conclusion”, he added.