Protests erupt at Panjab University over Senate election demand, students clash with police

Chandigarh (The Uttam Hindu) : Students at Punjab University in Chandigarh protested on Monday demanding the announcement of the Senate election date. 91 members of the Senate are to be elected. During the protest, an argument broke out between students and police. Seeing the police deployment, students urged their supporters to sit down and begin the protest wherever the police stopped them.

The police have closed gate number one and entry is being allowed through gates number two and three only after strict checking. The students got enraged after receiving information that the police had detained some protesters from gate number two. They opened the gate and entered the university. During this, there was pushing and shoving between the police and the students. The students created a ruckus over this on Sunday night as well. The students sat on a dharna at the university gate till late night. Seeing the matter escalating, Senior Superintendent of Police Kanwarpal Kaur had to handle the situation herself.

In view of the student protests, the university has declared a holiday on Monday and Tuesday. Crowds of students have begun gathering at the university since morning. Following the students' call, farmers and several political parties are also joining the protest in support. Chandigarh Police, however, has made strict security arrangements, deploying 2,000 personnel. Blockades have been set up at 12 locations across the city. Only those with work are allowed to enter the university, and their identity cards are being checked for that purpose.

The controversy began with the dissolution of the Senate and Syndicate at Panjab University. This angered students, leading the central government to withdraw the notification. Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring condemned the incident, saying, "Panjab University students are being prevented from entering their own campus. Girls are being pushed and harassed by security personnel."

Raja Warring said, "They have valid identity cards – is this democracy or a hidden dictatorship? Words fail to condemn the police brutality against peaceful students at Panjab University today. The students were protesting peacefully because they have lost faith in the central government, which is trying to snatch the university from Punjab. He said that the Congress stands shoulder to shoulder with the youth of Punjab."

Due to the protests, Chandigarh Police has set up special checkpoints on all its borders and is monitoring vehicles. This has led to a traffic jam on the Zirakpur highway, causing significant inconvenience to people. Similar situations are also prevalent in Mohali and Mullapur.

It is noteworthy that on October 28th, the central government issued a notification dissolving the 59-year-old Senate and Syndicate. This drew immediate political reaction. Punjab government minister Harpal Cheema, along with SAD President Sakhbir Singh Badal and Congress General Secretary Pragat Singh, described this as an attempt to destroy Punjab and Punjabi culture. They united and announced an all-out struggle to repeal this notification. They claimed that the central government had not only reduced the number of Senate members but also curtailed their powers. Students also joined in, launching a hunger strike. A "Save the University Front" was formed.

As protests escalated, the central government issued a new notification withdrawing its decision to dissolve the Senate and Syndicate of Panjab University. In this notification, the government postponed its decision, not rescinded it. The Student Union maintains that the Indian government has attempted to mislead everyone with its recent notifications regarding Panjab University. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also criticized the central government, even threatening to approach the High Court. Despite the central government's reversal, student protests continue. Students say they will continue until a date is announced for the appointment of all 91 members of the Senate. In addition to opposition leaders, they are also receiving support from social organizations.