Thousands Rally at Panjab University to Demand Senate Elections

Over 5,000 supporters gathered at Panjab University (PU) on March 11, 2024, in a significant protest demanding the announcement of the senate election schedule, which has been pending since October 2024. The protest, initiated by student groups, quickly evolved into a broader movement advocating for “Punjabiyat,” attracting political parties, farmer unions, and student organizations from across Punjab.

The demonstration led by the Panjab University Bachao Morcha defied the university administration’s appeals for calm, as protesters insisted on a resolution regarding the senate elections. Police had erected barricades around the campus to limit access to outsiders. Despite these measures, the crowd continued to grow, leading to significant chaos as students breached the barriers.

Around 11:00 AM, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kanwardeep Kaur attempted to negotiate with student leaders at the main gate. During her efforts to calm the situation, she climbed the gate to engage with the students, who were determined to allow additional supporters into the campus. As the situation escalated, police ultimately lifted restrictions, permitting tractors, pickup trucks with loudspeakers, and vehicles carrying langar (community meals) to enter the premises.

As chants of “Raj Karega Khalsa” and “Chandigarh Punjab Da” filled the air, student activists, including members of the All India Sikh Student Federation and prominent farmer leaders, broke through barricades. This prompted a mild response from police, who employed non-lethal crowd control measures. Among the notable figures present were Kanwar Charat Singh, grandson of the late Kartar Singh Bhindranwale, and Tarsem Singh, father of jailed MP Amritpal Singh.

The unrest originated from a now-rescinded notification by the Centre, which aimed to alter the structure of the university’s senate. According to Vice-Chancellor Renu Vig, the university has submitted a proposed schedule to the Vice-President’s office for approval. She emphasized that while the university is following due process, the ongoing protests have transformed into a political flashpoint.

Vig stated, “PU has done its part by sending the schedule to the V-P. We will follow due procedure and it may take a few days, as the V-P is currently out of Delhi.” She urged political parties and farmer unions to refrain from using the university as a platform for their agendas.

One of the protest organizers, Raman from the Student Front, confirmed that the protest would continue until the senate election schedule is disclosed. “We will hold a meeting on Tuesday to decide our next course of action. We may protest outside BJP offices in Punjab or carry out a protest march in PU,” he stated.

The protest saw participation from various political figures, including Anandpur Sahib Member of Parliament Malvinder Singh Kang (AAP), former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, and several MLAs. Notably absent from the protest were representatives from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Panjab University Campus Students Council (PUCSC) president, who is affiliated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

As the event unfolded, tensions arose among protest organizers regarding speaking time and representation, leading to dissatisfaction among various groups. Despite the police presence, which included nearly 2,000 personnel deployed from early morning, the protest resulted in a surge of participants breaching gates, creating a stampede-like atmosphere.

In the aftermath, approximately 70 to 80 protesters were escorted to the India Reserve Battalion (IRB) Complex in Sarangpur. Police clarified that these individuals were not detained but relocated to maintain order. Four police officers, including DSP SPS Sondhi and Inspector Rohit Kumar, suffered injuries during the chaos.

Inspector General (IG) Pushpendra Kumar later commented on the situation, stating, “It was a deliberate and thoughtful decision to allow the protesters to enter the campus, as our motive was to avoid violence. The demonstration was a success as no untoward incident was reported.”

The ongoing tension surrounding the university’s governance and the political implications of the protest highlight the complexities of student activism in Punjab, as various factions vie for influence in a rapidly evolving political landscape.