Varsity sits on permission for Amarinder`s event; organizers cry foul

PATIALA: The decision of Punjabi University to declare a holiday on the day state Congress chief and Patiala MLA Amarinder Singh wanted to interact with the students there, has sparked off a controversy on Friday. The organizers alleged that the varsity authorities had done this to discourage students from attending Amarinder`s function.
The matter has assumed political overtones after organizers, National Students` Union Of India (NSUI), which have affiliation with Congress, accused the varsity authorities of playing political favourites, while citing an incident when the university functioned on a Saturday to play host to CM Parkash Singh Badal in April this year.The organization also alleged that the varsity authorities did not give permission for Amarinder`s interaction, even though, the union had started approaching different authorities, starting with the VCs` office since July 25.
In the absence of permission, and in view of a holiday in the varsity, Amarinder interacted with students right outside the campus for two hours and assured them that students elections, which have not been held in the state for many years now, would be organised once his party comes to power.
"In total we filed around three applications for permission. First with VC, then with dean, students welfare and dean, academics. But did not get any reply. If Bikram Majithia and Sukhbir Badal could conduct their functions inside the university then what is the problem with PPCC chief?" questioned NSUI Punjab president Gobind Khatra.
While no senior official of the varsity was willing to comment on the controversy, Amarinder criticized the refusal of permission by the authorities, saying "everybody has a right to speak his mind``. He then went on to "absolve" the varsity officials, saying that permission may have been withheld at Badals` behest.
An official, who declined to be named, stated that the holiday on Friday was in lieu of April 30 when the university functioned on a Saturday to hold the inaugural session of 4th Sarv Bharti Punjabi conference on the occasion of varsity`s 50th foundation day. The CM was the chief guest. "It`s common practice of university, and it has nothing to do with PPCC chief`s function. We get special holiday of any working day if we work during off day,`` he claimed.
However, questioning the decision of varsity in selecting a particular day when Amarinder wanted to hold his interaction, the NSUI officials alleged, "The university officers can work even during off on Saturday if chief minister comes to university to listen his political statements. But they are unwilling to allow a non-political interaction of opposition," said Khatra.
Repeated attempts to contact VC Jaspal Singh, registrar A S Chawla and dean student welfare Kulbir Singh Dhillon proved futile as their mobile were switched off while dean academic S S Tiwana did not attend to repeated calls.