Chandigarh, June 2, 2023 (Yes Punjab News)
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) general secretary Parambans Singh Romana today said Haryana’s move to affiliate its colleges with Panjab University was a BJP-RSS ploy to take control over the University and use it to dilute Punjab’s unique history and culture.
Addressing a press conference here, the SAD leader also took on chief minister Bhagwant Mann for collaborating with the BJP vis a vis the sinister move to rob Panjab University of its autonomy and dilute Punjab’s right over Chandigarh. “The chief minister did not object to the Haryana chief minister’s presence in a meeting called by the Governor with regard to the Panjab University knowing full well that Haryana does not have any stake in PU after the voluntary disaffiliation of its colleges from the University in 1978.
Bhagwant Mann also remained a mute spectator to suggestions of the Punjab Governor who asserted that colleges of Haryana be re-affiliated to PU. The final nail in the coffin was the Haryana chief minister’s assertion that the suggestions had been taken in a ‘positive spirit’ by Bhagwant Mann”.
Explaining the entire issue, Mr Parambans Romana said the PU was the only autonomous University in the country which had democratically elected governing bodies in the Senate and the Syndicate. He said the present dispensation in the PU had tried to change this system by advocating disaffiliation of colleges of Punjab but the same was stoutly resisted by the SAD. “Now the current move to affiliate colleges of Haryana to PU is aimed at bringing in Haryana representatives loyal to the BJP-RSS combine into the Senate and Syndicate as well as appointing teaching staff which is sympathetic to the RSS ideology”.
Mr Romana reminded the AAP government it had passed a resolution in the assembly in June this year asserting it would not allow any change in the character of the University and was ready to provide all funds necessary to the varsity. “If this is so then the Haryana government’s offer of funds to the University does not have any meaning and should be rejected out rightly”.
He said instead of playing along, Mr Bhagwant Mann should have also boldly asked the Governor what the Haryana chief minister was doing in the meeting. The very fact that he did not raise any objection points out to collusion on the same pattern as is being done in the case of the SYL canal. All this has perturbed the youth and Punjabis alike and it should be ensured nothing is done to hurt their sentiments any further”.
Meanwhile the SAD leader also explained that the Panjab University had been classified as an inter-State body during reorganization of Punjab because colleges from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh were then affiliated with it.
“Due to this the Vice President had been designated as its Chancellor”. He said over the years both Haryana and Himachal disaffiliated their colleges from PU. “Now only colleges of Punjab are affiliated with PU and this makes a case for making the Punjab Governor or the Punjab chief minister its Chancellor”, Mr Romana added.
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