Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday issued a “stern warning” against the proposed move “to tinker with the cultural and regional character and curtail the territorial jurisdiction of the Panjab University.”
He said this move would be fraught with serious emotional, religious and political consequences, cautioning the Vice Chancellor Dr Raj Kumar not to rush headlong into this rash and ill-advised venture which concerned the sentiments of the people of Punjab who were already reeling under prolonged injustice and discrimination in various political, religious, economic and territorial spheres.
“It seems that the varsity authorities are insensitive to the emotional fallout of their actions. Their motives strike at the very roots of the ideals which inspire SAD and which form the cornerstone of the Constitution of India. At stake here are the country’s federal character and the ideal of unity and diversity. This move has already given rise to fears of an assault on minority interests,” said Badal in a statement here.
The SAD chief said that this move would virtually deprive this great institution of its very character as an “institution of global repute symbolising Punjab and its rich and variegated culture.” He said that efforts seemed afoot to deprive this great institution of its character as essentially the heart and mind of Punjabis.”
“There are credible and disturbing reports of a move to reduce and limit the jurisdiction of this world famous and historic edifice of academic excellence to just the periphery of the Union Territory of Chandigarh. For this, they are reportedly going through the formality of having a High Level Committee recommending disaffiliation of more than 200 colleges at present with the Varsity spreading over seven districts in the State in the Malwa belt. This won’t be allowed”.
The Akali leader also came down heavily against the reported move to change the character and composition of both the Senate and the Syndicate of the university in order to destroy their democratic academic character as well as turn these into centrally controlled wings of the varsity.