Panjab University Shutdown: Exams Deferred Amid Student-Farmer Protest | India News
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Panjab University (PU) was shut down on Wednesday, November 26, as students, farmers unions, and civil groups joined forces to stage a protest on campus. The varsity, in response, deferred all examinations scheduled for the day. Teaching, non-teaching, and office activities were also suspended. The protests, led by the Panjab University Bachao Morcha, began after the Centre's decision to restructure PU's governing bodies, the Senate and Syndicate. Despite the Ministry of Education withdrawing its notification, the students refused to end their agitation, demanding a schedule for the Senate elections, which have been delayed for over a year. The students, who met with the PU vice-chancellor, claimed that the poll schedule had been sent for approval to the Chancellor, but no progress was made. Following a consultation with farmers unions, the morcha announced a bandh, warning the varsity of possible blockades if exams were conducted on Wednesday. Several political parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress, expressed their support for the students' agitation. The university initially issued conflicting notices, directing exams to proceed as scheduled, before finally announcing that they had been deferred. Amid mounting pressure from the morcha, the university officials declared that the exams were now postponed, with new dates to be announced later. The situation at Panjab University remains tense, with students and farmers continuing to protest for their demands to be met.
