The India Post, Chandigarh, 25th August, 2008 :CHANDIGARH- AUGUST 25, 2008: Sh. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Member Parliament and President, SAD on Panjab University campus along with Vice-Chancellor, Senior University functionaries and students.
Addressing the gathering, Sh. Sukhbir Badal shared his concern for the cause of education and informed that the Akali Government was committed to support education. He also informed that right from primary education to higher education, the Government had initiated steps to secure financial, infrastructural and quality education. He said that his dream was to make Punjab green and number one in term of over-all development.
He recalled his days as a student of the Panjab University and shared that the environment in Panjab University was the best as comparable to other top class universities of the world. He emphasized the need for constant updation and upgradation of technology to meet the ever-changing requirements.
On the issue of central status, Sh. Badal said he was in favour of University getting central support, his party’s concern was that Punjab’s and Punjabis’ interest must not be compromised. He assured that he would take up the matter with the Chief Minister today itself and urge him to write to the Central Government in this regard.
Earlier Dr. R.C. Sobti, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University in his welcome address thanked Sh. Badal for visiting the campus and informed him all the steps taken by the Panjab University 1in carrying out the academic dreams of Punjab Government. He made an impassioned plea for financial and other support from the Punjab Government.
Amongst others who addresses included Sh. Satya Pal Jain, Fellow and Former Member of Parliament who made a fervent plea for grant of central status to Panjab University, Dr. Ronki Ram, President, PUTA and student leaders from Students Organization of India. They informed that they had already planted over 70,000 trees in deference to the wishes of Sh. Sukhbir Badal in colleges and Universities of Punjab. The initial target is to plant One Lakh trees which they will be completing in near future.