Tensions at Panjab University (PU) mounted on Monday as students protesting against the controversial affidavit clause locked Gate No. 2 with chains, symbolically shutting out the authorities, after late-night talks with the administration collapsed.Students were protesting against the Union government’s overhauling of the governance structure of PU, converting the elected Syndicate into a completely nominated body and reducing the strength of its Senate.On Monday, various student organisations of PU came together under the banner of ‘Panjab University Bachao Morcha’ to protest against the dissolution of the Senate elections.The students marched from the Vice Chancellor’s Office to Gate No. 2 and blocked the gate for almost four hours. The protest later turned into an indefinite sit-in outside the Vice-Chancellor’s (VC’s) Office, demanding the restoration of the 91-member Senate.The protestors stood on a common ground, and with heavy police presence on the campus, there was a clash between the police and protesting students, as students held placards with slogans against the “undemocratic move” of the Centre.Students marched towards Gate No. 2 and got together to forcibly close the gate around 2 pm, restricting entry and exit to the campus. They raised slogans against PU authorities and the police that were attempting to control the students near the gate.There was also a parallel movement and protest with PUCSC general secretary Abhishek Dagar continuing his hunger strike, and students supported both movements on campus.Story continues below this adDagar, whose hunger strike entered its sixth day, continued to refuse medical attention even as his health deteriorated.Protesters also hung a pair of khaki shorts at the site and raised slogans against the RSS, accusing it of “controlling student voices”Senior police officers, including the SP and DSP, arrived on campus in the morning to mediate between the agitating students and university officials. According to student representative Navpreet Ganga, a closed-door meeting was held in the presence of the Vice-Chancellor and members of the PU Council. Officials present during the meeting included Women DSW Dr Namita Gupta, Associate DSW Naresh Kumar, Chief Security Officer Vikram Singh, and DSW Amit Chauhan. Despite repeated attempts, all remained unreachable for comment.Protesters also hung a pair of khaki shorts at the site and raised slogans against the RSS, accusing it of “controlling student voices.” Placards reading “Complete withdrawal of affidavit,” “Reject undemocratic affidavit,” were displayed prominently as the sit-in continued late into the night.As police tried to persuade Dagar to end his fast, students began chanting, “Go back, go back, sharabi police go back,” alleging that some personnel were intoxicated.Story continues below this ad“SP came around 11 am to advise Dagar to take a drip since his health was worsening. We were told that if the affidavit was withdrawn, the hunger strike would end,” Navpreet said. “In the meeting, the authorities gave us two options: either the university would hold the affidavit temporarily or remove it only for this year and reintroduce it next year. We refused both and demanded complete withdrawal, along with the withdrawal of Archit Garg’s case from the High Court.”Navpreet alleged that although the agreement was initially finalised in writing, the administration later altered the wording after police officials left. “They changed words like ‘must’ to ‘shall’ and added a new condition that Archit must first withdraw the case before the affidavit is revoked. When we objected, they said it was on legal advice,” she claimed.She further alleged that university officials later called students close to Dagar, urging them to convince him to eat, describing it as an “attempt to break unity.”Despite prolonged talks, Dagar said he would continue his fast until the administration completely withdraws the affidavit clause. “This is not my fight; it’s against a mindset,” he told The Indian Express. “The Vice-Chancellor hasn’t met me even once. We’ll continue till we win,” he added.Deepender Hooda, Chandumajra express solidarity with studentsStory continues below this adIn solidarity with the protesting students, several personalities, political leaders and representatives from different organisations also addressed the gathering, including Advocate Amarjeet, MP Sarabjit Khalsa, Guramneet Singh Mangat from Kisan Majdoor Morcha, Avtar Maihma from Kranti Kisan Union, Prem Singh, and Avtar Singh Karimpuri, BSPA State President.As police tried to persuade Dagar to end his fast, students began chanting, “Go back, go back, sharabi police go back,” alleging that some personnel were intoxicatedDeepender Singh Hooda, MP, Rohtak, met Dagar and the PU V-C Renu Vig, and later assured students that he would raise the issue in the Winter Session of the Parliament and agreed that the affidavit must be withdrawn.Meanwhile, the protest was addressed by student leaders Sarah from PSU (Lalkaar), Sandeep from SFS, Darsh from SATH, Gagan from Punjabnaama, Rimaljot, Vicky Dhanoa from ASAP, Ajay from AISA, and Harkamal Singh from SOI. They strongly condemned the dissolution of the Senate and called it an undemocratic and unconstitutional attack on the autonomy of PU.Speakers expressed serious concern over the consequences of the dissolution of the Senate elections, stating that it was a clear move towards the privatisation and centralisation of the university. They emphasised that the decision would “undermine” the historical rights of Punjab over the university and warned that it reflected the central government’s long-standing intention to impose control over autonomous educational institutions, as evident in the New Education Policy. The change in the structure of the Senate, they said, was unconstitutional and part of a larger effort to curtail democratic participation in university governance.‘Will continue struggle until decision is revoked’Story continues below this ad“We will continue the indefinite struggle until the decision to dissolve the Senate is revoked, and the democratic and autonomous character of Panjab University is restored. We will take our voice outside the campus, and involve more people, organisations and students as the future of students is at stake,” said Manika from PSU (Lalkaar).Harman Deep Singh, a student of law at PU and an advocate, said that the Senate’s membership has been reduced from 91 to 21, without following the law amendment procedure.“Exams are scheduled soon, and the decision was taken at this time so that students cannot join the protests. For a Senate to be dissolved, there must be a Senate. From students’ welfare, curriculum, employment issues affecting students, fee structure, students had the Senate to turn to, now we have no one to talk to or hear our issues. Nominated members cannot take pro-student decisions. The Punjab government must get the issue highlighted in the Vidhan Sabha,” said Singh, adding that representation is first, and negotiations later.Manika, who had not had a lunch break till 4.30 pm, said PU was the last university in the country that had a Senate, and it was a channel to raise a voice if the V-C was not approachable as he/she was answerable to the Senate.Story continues below this ad“Now there is no accountability, freedom is there, liberty is over. Why is there police at every function? It is to curb the voices of students. Earlier there was room for discussion; now there is nothing,” said Manika.The decision, adds Sarah, is a move to gain political control over the university, as the Senate was an independent body, and now centralisation has been achieved.“Fee hike is a growing concern, with privatisation the key thought. Fifty per cent of the faculty is vacant, and guest faculty are taking classes. No event can be organised unless we show the authorities the event details, scripts etc. From faculty to students, everyone will be affected by this decision, with the PU president’s role as an observer also gone.”“The category of Ordinary Fellows has been redefined, with their number capped at 24, and now anyone can be inducted as one, and so many powers and authority will now be with the VC, and none with students,” reflected Sarah.Story continues below this adSimranjit Singh Dhillon, former member, PU Senate, said that the Centre’s move to dissolve the 59-year-old Senate and Syndicate is a direct attack on the democratic setup of the university. According to Dhillon, the move takes away the voice of elected representatives and weakens the institution’s autonomy.Prof Chaman Lal, former dean, Faculty of Languages, and Senate member, Panjab University, said that this decision will crush the secular system of a prestigious university like PU. “The V-C will be all-powerful, and now it is like all other universities, under government control. The central government will be calling the shots in every aspect of the university, be it the curriculum, service conditions etc,” Lal said.The escalation followed Sunday night’s confrontation between students and police at the protest site, where Dagar has been on an indefinite hunger strike.(Asmita Maini is an intern with The Indian Express)