PU is now my university, says V-C Raj Kumar

Professor Raj Kumar, who joined as the 13th vice-chancellor of the Panjab University (PU) on Monday, claimed it to be his varsity now.

“PU is now my university. I will work for uplifting its tradition and values. I will contribute to its development as much as I can,” he said.

When asked how he will deal with the ongoing financial crunch and recruitment issues, Prof Kumar said, “I will see what I can do. I do not have all the information right now. I need to know and understand these things to create a vision for future.”

“I am here for three years and in this period, I will work for optimal output,” he added.

Prof Kumar is the first V-C who does not belong to this university as all the previous vice-chancellors had either been students or teachers at PU. Prof Kumar is also well known for his association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

The present PU V-C was a professor at Institute of Management Studies in Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and chosen by vice-president and chancellor of PU, Venkaiah Naidu, from three names shortlisted by the selection committee on Saturday.

Meanwhile, among the first ones to welcome the new V-C were Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chandigarh chief Sanjay Tandon and party’s Punjab secretary Subhash Sharma. Both are members of the PU senate too.

Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) unit of PU also welcomed Prof Kumar with a bouquet of flowers.

NSUI holds protest against Prof Kumar

National Students’ Organisation of India (NSUI) unit of PU held a protest against the V-C outside his office by flashing black charts with slogans inscribed ‘Vice-Chancellor Go Back’. They alleged that his selection has been made on the basis of his connections with the BJP and the RSS.

“It is the murder of democracy,” said NSUI spokesperson Gurjot Singh.