Protesting students' bodies, police clash

MOHALI: Hundreds of students representing various students' bodies clashed with the police here on Thursday during a protest against PU's centralization. Nine student organisations held the protest and attempted to break and scale police barriers, after which Mohali police resorted to mild lathicharge.
No one was hurt during the incident, said senior superintendent of police (SSP) Vivek Sheel Soni.The protesting students demanded that Panjab University should be handed over to Punjab and opposed its centralization. They also batted for the repeal of privatization, saffronisation and centralization of education through the New Education Policy (2020). The students demanded that complete financial responsibilities of the government universities of Punjab should be with the state government.
The issue heated up after the Punjab and Haryana high court directed the central government, through the ministries of home affairs and education, to consider the conversion of Panjab University into a central one.
The students gathered at Gurdwara Amb Sahib and started proceeding towards YPS crossing, where they managed to break the barricades and then moved towards Chandigarh. Later, the officer on special duty (OSD) to the chief minister reached out to the protesting student leaders and called the nine representatives for a meeting at CM's residence on Friday.
‘The issue should be resolved collectively, not emotionally’
Talking to the TOI, Aman from PSU (Lalkaar) said, “The high court has given a nod to PU centralization. If it happens, PU will come under the direct control of the central government and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Central government will seize from Punjab the university that works for Punjabi language and culture. It will then be run by the central government, which believes in crushing all regional languages. About 200 affiliated colleges in Punjab will be left destitute or governed by the Centre and we will never let this happen.”
Prof Jagwant, who is a PU senator, said, “It is a policy issue and the court should not intervene in it. It is also a political issue and should be resolved collectively not emotionally. I am sure that the Centre will take the state government along while taking the decision. Panjab University is the pride of Punjab and it will always be a part of it.”
Prof Rajat Sandhir, also aPU senator, said, “We have no hopes from the state, which has been declaring itself fund-starved. Coming under the central rule will give a better opportunity to the university. It will be beneficial to students and teachers. Saying that the Punjabi culture and language will get affected makes no sense, as there are so many central universities that are keeping their language and culture alive.” The nine organisations are Students for Society (SFS), Democratic Students’ Organisation (DSO), Punjab Radical Students’ Union (PRSU), Punjab Student Union (PSU), PSU (Lalkaar), Punjab Student Union (PSU) (Shaheed Randhawa), Student Federation of India (SFI), All India Students’ Federation (AISF), All India Students’ Association (AISA), and Punjab Student Federation (PSF). ABVP condemned the protest. Amit Punia, ABVP president, said, “This protest is being organised only to put pressure on the central authorities. Most of the students and teachers want the university to come under central rule.”