The India Post, 5th September, 2008 : The PUTA took a massive rally today morning on the Campus of the Panjab University to observe Teachers’ Day (5th September) as a protest day by bearing black badges.
Dr. Ronki Ram, President of the PUTA, while addressing the rally emphasized that PUTA wants consensus of all the sections of the society within as well as outside the Campus on the question of the central status to P.U. If the grant of the central status, as is being alleged dilutes the rightful claim of the state of Punjab on Chandigarh, Dr Ronki Ram opined, PUTA would not like to take a confrontationist stand of this issue.
He further reiterated that PUTA’s stand will in no way go against the interests of the state of Punjab. But, he said, there should not be any problem on the demand of the PUTA for a hundred per cent grant from the central government for the Panjab University as it would not prejudice the interests of the State of Punjab at all. He appealed to the intelligentsia in Punjab and all other sections of the society along with the non-teaching section of the Panjab University to support the 100% central grant demand of the PUTA for the enormous benefits for the students, faculty and overall academic environment on the campus.
This would also go a long way in furthering the cause of higher education in the state of Punjab. Dr. Ronki Ram has also categorically made it clear that the PUTA agitation platform would not be allowed to be used either by the forthcoming Senate election contesting candidates nor the students of the university be allowed to involve in it at all. The rally was followed by a one day token strike. For the future course of action the PUTA executive will meet today in the evening in the PUTA secretariat.