PU students block Gate No. 2, demand quashing of FIR

The Panjab University Bachao Morcha students today blocked the enty to the Panjab University campus at Gate No. 2 opposite Sector 15, demanding quashing of the FIR against 14 students for allegedly trying to disrupt Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann’s address on November 13 and demanding elections to the Senate. The protesters marched from the Vice-Chancellor’s office to Gate No. 2, where they were met with resistance from the local police, who were deployed there already. The students vacated the road around 6 pm today after the Dean, Student Welfare, forwarded the demands of students to the Registrar YP Verma.

Stakeholders remain absent

This is the second time that the students indulged in a confrontation with the local police over Senate poll delay, while the stakeholders — Fellows or the Senate members — remained absent at the protest at Panjab University’s Gate No. 2. Moreover, major student parties on the campus were nowhere to be seen. Some Fellows claimed that not every Senator supported the closure of campus gate as it would cause inconvenience to students due to examinations.

As per university officials, the authorities will seek legal opinion on the demand of quashing the FIR. “The university only filed a complaint and the police registered the FIR. Since the issue pertained to the security of a Chief Minister, it won’t be that easy to quash the FIR,” a senior university official said.

Commenting on the matter, Dean of Student Welfare Amit Chauhan said, “The students have requested for a fresh schedule to be sent to the Chancellor for Senate elections and quashing of FIR registered on November 13. The letter has been forwarded to the Registrar, who is the authority to deal with the matter.” On the other hand, morcha students said that their protest will continue outside the VC’s office.

Majithia supports protest

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia today expressed solidarity with Panjab University student organisations demanding elections be held to the university’s Senate and urged UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria to intervene and scrap the FIR registered against 14 students. Interacting with the protesters outside the VC’s office, he demanded convening of a special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to pass a resolution to demand holding of elections.