Punjab Govt passes resolution in Vidhan Sabha against centralization of Panjab University

NEW DELHI: The Punjab Government has moved a resolution in Vidhan Sabha today against the centralization of Panjab University, state education minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said.

“A resolution was passed in the Vidhan Sabha against the centralization of Panjab University, Chandigarh. The matter will now be referred to the Central Government for raising. The state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is committed to protect Chandigarh, Punjabi speaking areas and waters with Punjab University,” Hayer said in a tweet.

ਵਿਧਾਨ ਸਭਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਯੂਨੀਵਰਸਿਟੀ, ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ ਦੇ ਕੇਂਦਰੀਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਖ਼ਿਲਾਫ਼ ਮਤਾ ਪਾਸ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੁਣ ਇਹ ਮਾਮਲਾ ਕੇਂਦਰ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਕੋਲ ਉਠਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਭੇਜਿਆ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ। ਮਾਣਯੋਗ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਭਗਵੰਤ ਮਾਨ ਜੀ ਦੀ ਅਗਵਾਈ ਵਾਲੀ ਸੂਬਾ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਯੂਨੀਵਰਸਿਟੀ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ, ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਬੋਲਦੇ ਇਲਾਕੇ ਅਤੇ ਪਾਣੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਲਈ ਵਚਨਬੱਧ ਹੈ। pic.twitter.com/5U75LGmS2r

— Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer (@meet_hayer) June 30, 2022

Students of Panjab University protested against the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s direction to the central government for consideration of the conversion of the university into a central university. Students launched an online campaign on Twitter using the hashtag #SavePUFromCentre.

Students from different organisations were lathicharged by Punjab Police when they were on their way to submit a memorandum to the Punjab Governor. Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira had extended his support to the students. He appealed to all parties to unite and pass a resolution in Vidhan Sabha against the “unilateral act of BJP”.

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On its official website, Panjab University has stated that it was established in 1882. The website further says that it is a central and state governments funded university located in Chandigarh. In May 2022, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed the Central Government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Education, to consider the issue of conversion of Panjab University into a Central university. The next date of hearing is August 30.