Chandigarh, Nov 26: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Tuesday stood in solidarity with student organizations at Panjab University, who have been demanding elections for the university's Senate. Majithia urged Chandigarh Administrator, Gulab Chand Kataria, to intervene and cancel the false cases filed against the students.
Speaking at a sit-in protest on campus, Majithia called for a special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to pass a resolution demanding the holding of Senate elections. He also expressed concern over the allocation of land in Chandigarh to Haryana for the construction of a separate legislative assembly.
Holding a copy of the Constitution during his address, Majithia emphasized the importance of upholding democratic principles. He reminded the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that loyalty to the Constitution should go beyond just pledges, asserting that the Constitution exists to protect the people's democratic rights, including the right to elect the Senate.
Praising the student organizations for uniting beyond political lines, Majithia condemned the police's treatment of students during a recent protest, when they attempted to meet Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. He strongly criticized the use of force, particularly the manhandling of female students, and expressed outrage over the non-bailable charges filed against the protestors.
Majithia assured the students that the Akali Dal would stand by them in their legal fight and urged them to file formal complaints with the Chandigarh Senior Superintendent of Police and the UT Administrator regarding the false charges.
Ranjit Singh Dhillon, President of the Students Organization of India (SOI), also spoke at the protest, highlighting concerns over the increasing centralization of Panjab University and the threat to Punjab's rights to the institution. He pointed out efforts to affiliate colleges in Haryana with the university, a move seen as undermining its regional identity.
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