Chandigarh 20-3-08 A large number of students and teachers gathered today in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s office and lodged a strong protest against the silence of Panjab Government over the Central University Status for Panjab University. Addressing the gathering Prof. Manjit Singh explained the severity of
financial crunch Panjab University is undergoing presently, and even under such circumstances Punjab Government is not ready to release its due share of finances to P.U. To let down Panjab University by not accepting the offer of 100 per cent grant to P.U. by the Ministry of Human Resource Development amounts to let die this premier institute of India that has produced millions of scholars, statesmen and scientists. The present Akali Dal President and Prime of India are two such alumni of P.U., told Prof. Singh. Mr Parminder Jaswal, President Students Council welcoming the large-scale participation of the students exhorted them to be ready for the decisive struggle. By sitting on Dharna for two days we have already sent the warning signals to the quarters that refuse to move. In case we are still unheard of, we would be left with no option but to intensify our struggle for the central university. The spiraling fee hike, particularly in the self-financing courses, has deprived many students of getting university education, lamented Mr Jaswal. Prof. A.S. Ahluwalia, President PUTA, explained to the students that how each and every scholar is going to get a stipend to Rs. 3-5 thousand from the UGC once the proposal for full finances from the MHRD is accepted by the Punjab Government. The non-plan budget will increase more than ten folds of the present budget of PU. The pension will become part of the budget, putting all apprehensions to rest over sustainability of pension. On the other hand PUTA has resolved to hold an Emergency General Body meeting of the teachers on 24th March in the Auditorium of department of Evening Studies in order to take stock of the situation. Besides many others who addressed the gatherings, Dr. Jayanth Pedkar, Department of Mass Communication, Dr Ashok Kumar, Department of Hindi, and Mr Sunny, a student activist also addressed.