Chandigarh,Apr 17: During the past ten days the site of the Chain Fast, held by the students, teachers and technical staff of Panjab University demanding Central university status for P.U., has emerged as a major rallying point. Yesterday more than 550 people visited the site and signed in the visitors register. Despite very busy time of examination, a large number of teachers and students are volunteering for sitting on the Chain Fast. Tomorrow, the entire faculty of more than 30 teachers from the Department of Evening Studies has offered to sit with the fasting batch of teachers and students till noon. This massive support is flowing as message is percolating that the only solution to all the present ills of the University is in its full financing from the Union Government as Punjab Government is at the verge of financial bankruptcy with an outstanding debt burden of more than Rs. 50 crore. Prof A.S. Ahluwalia, Chairman JAC, said that by giving consent to the MHRD for fully financing Panjab University, Panjab Government stands to benefit doubly; it can not only use Rs.16 crore saved from P.U. on the Higher Education in Punjab, it can also save Punjab University with the liberal flow of funds from the Centre. Those who sat on the chain fast today were Prof. G.S. Gill, department of Geology, Dr Prince Sharma, Dr Vijay Prabha, and Dr. Deepak K. Rahi all the three from the department of Microbiology, and Sh Sunil Kumar, a student from the Social Work department. A large number of the Fellows of the University and some of the deans also visited the site of Chain Fast. In the JAC meeting held today it is decided that the Chain Fast shall continue during the next week. In the meeting, while thanking the entire media for taking active interest in the future of Panjab University, it is decided to educate public more and more on the importance of central university status for P.U. by writing articles, and dispel misconceptions, if any. It is also decided to request the Speaker of Punjab to call an all party meeting so that the true stand of different political parties could be made clear in the public. In the meeting it is also decided that various associations and unions from the U.T Chandigarh shall be contacted in order to mobilize support in favour of ongoing agitation on the campus. Teachers from Hoshiarpur Centre of P.U. today visited the site of chain fast and has extended invitation to JAC leadership to start similar protest over there. Sh A.S. Sahney, Convenor, Federation of Trade Unions, U.T. Chandigarh, while supporting the demand of central university status for P.U., has offered to participate in the collective protest whenever JAC would give such a call.