Chandigarh-The Aam Aadmi Party Punjab strongly condemns the brutal lathi charge carried out on peaceful students of Panjab University by Chandigarh Police in coordination with Haryana Police. The students were holding a peaceful protest against the dissolution of the Panjab University Senate and demanding fair Senate elections when the BJP-led administration responded with violence.
AAP leader Baltej Pannu, in a statement issued to media, said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has repeatedly warned that the Bharatiya Janata Party is trying to impose control over Punjab’s institutions and political structure through force and deceit. “The BJP wants to capture every democratic platform in Punjab, from BBMB to Panjab University, by misusing central power and deploying central forces. But Punjabis will never allow such an assault on their rights and autonomy, ” the party stated.
The statement added that under pressure from the students’ movement, the earlier notification dissolving the Senate was withdrawn within minutes, exposing the BJP’s nervousness and double standards.
Pannu said that AAP stands in full solidarity with the protesting students and supports their rightful and peaceful struggle for the autonomy and democratic functioning of Panjab University. The Bhagwant Mann-led government denounces the lathi charge in the strongest terms and warns the BJP to stop using coercive tactics against Punjab’s students and institutions.