Sukhbir Singh Badal exhorts everyone to rise above party lines to support the cause of Panjab University

Chandigarh(The Uttam Hindu): Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal today exhorted all political parties and social organisations to rise above party lines to support the issue of Panjab University.

Talking to the media after interacting with protesting students of Panjab University, the SAD President said that the need of the hour was to send a strong message that Punjabis will not allow this university to be taken away from Punjab. He said that he didn’t want credit for any effort, but Punjabis should unite to oppose any such move to take away Panjab University from the state. 

He said that Panjab University is a symbol of the state and that this is an emotional issue for them. He said that he had studied at the university for four years and that they should come together on a common platform to oppose any move to centralise this university.

He said that this is the first attempt to capture a prestigious institute of Punjab, and that after this, attempts are lined up to change the character of Chandigarh. 

He said that he had learnt that a separate recruitment policy for Chandigarh was being prepared. He said that when the state was reorganised in 1966, it was decided to post officers in a ratio of 60:40 from Punjab and Haryana, and now attempts are being made to create a separate cadre for Chandigarh along the lines of other UTs.

He said that Shriomani Akali Dal-led delegation would soon meet the Vice President of India to seek his intervention in the matter. He said that the Akali Dal was ready to play its role in opposing any move to change the character of Panjab University and that they are ready to lead the campaign in this regard.

Earlier, the SAD President was briefed by students of the university on the latest developments in the issue, who said that the Vice Chancellor had informed them that he had sent a proposal to the authorities concerned for the revival of elections to the Senate and was waiting for approval. The students questioned that when two notifications could be issued in a couple of hours by the Union government, why can’t the VC’s proposal be approved without delay.

Responding to media queries, the SAD President said that he had not come here as a political person, but that he has an emotional attachment with this university, which has around 200 colleges of Punjab affiliated to it. He said that he would do whatever is required of him to safeguard the existing character of the university.