Punjabi University guest faculty warn of hunger strike over unmet demands

Punjabi University guest assistant professors’ protest entered its 73nd day, with protesters ruing the administration’s alleged apathy towards their demands. The professors, who threatened to go on a hunger strike, are demanding a basic salary of Rs 57,700.

Protesters on Thursday performed a “symbolic” funeral procession of the university administration across the campus. Chanting slogans, they marched through the university, culminating in a powerful protest in front of the iconic Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha Library, where they burned the effigy of the administration.

Notably, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had in a recent directive asked for year-long salaries being released. Nothing, however, has materialised on ground.

Protesters said the varsity’s administration has continued to ignore their demands by citing the absence of a Vice-Chancellor as an excuse for inaction.

The Punjabi University Guest Teachers’ Association (PUGTA) has appealed to the Punjab government to urgently appoint a Vice-Chancellor to address the growing crisis. They warned that if their demands remain unmet, they will resort to a hunger strike, escalating their protest to unprecedented levels.

Student and staff unions also joined the protest in solidarity. Among the student leaders present were Gagandeep of Punjab Students’ Federation, Karan from PRSU, Pritpal from AISF, Nirbhai from SFI, Gurdeep Singh and Kuldeep Singh from SOI, Sahil from PUSUand Harpreet from PSU (Lalkar), along with many other concerned students.