Demonstration against violence against professor in Punjabi University

Today, students, researchers, teachers of Punjabi University, Patiala, led a protest march in the university under the leadership of ‘Against Violence’ and submitted their demand letter to the Vice Chancellor.

Through this memorandum, it was demanded that the university administration should form an inquiry committee to identify the perpetrators of the violence committed by the mob on Professor Surjit inside the university on September 14 and take appropriate action.

The accused persons should be suspended from the university so that they cannot interfere in the proceedings of the inquiry committee. Prof. In case Surjit is proved innocent, he should be brought back to the university campus to perform teaching and other duties.

In order to create sensitivity towards the sick students in the university, the hostels in bad condition should be repaired and renovated with the help of the university. A medical consultant should be appointed in the university dispensary so that the students can be informed about the causes of the disease at the basic level and given appropriate advice for further treatment. University dispensary should have institutional linkage with nearby government and private hospitals.

Along with this demand letter, a petition signed by a large number of students regarding these same demands was also submitted to the Vice Chancellor. It is worth mentioning that the ‘United Front Against Violence’ had launched this signature campaign in Punjabi University, Patiala recently.

Under which 1971 students of the university had signed their agreement with the demands like setting up an inquiry committee against violence in the university, identifying the persons involved in violence and improving the health arrangements for sick students in the university.

The stage continued for two hours in front of the Vice Chancellor’s office and various speakers gave speeches. While moderating the forum, Jagtar questioned the silence of the university since the attack on Professor Surjit on September 14.

Swami Sarabjit said that if we do not speak about the attack on a teacher, then there will be a gap between teachers and students. Talking about the politics of rumors in this issue, Paramjit Singh said that the attack on Professor Surjit is a conspiracy to deprive the students of a sincere teacher.

Virender Khurana said that the death of the late student Jashandeep has been used to attack Professor Surjit in an ugly way. Ravinder Ghuman linked this incident with mob violence in the country. Students of the university said that in this whole incident, we have been deprived of a teacher who teaches us to be sensitive about issues of society, gender, education in class.

The morcha announced that the morcha will continue until the university administration gives a written assurance to act on the above demands.