PU Bachao Morcha Calls for Total Shutdown on Nov 26 if Senate Poll Schedule Not Released by Deadline

Chandigarh (Naval Kishore)— Panjab University is headed for another complete shutdown as the PU Bachao Morcha announced a campus-wide bandh on November 26 if the administration fails to release the Senate election schedule by November 25. The Morcha, backed by more than 50 student unions, farmers’ groups, employees’ bodies and civil society organisations, said the bandh will mirror the massive uprising of November 10 when PU saw its largest youth mobilisation in years.

The Morcha declared that no academic, administrative or allied activity will be permitted on November 26. Further decisions will be announced during a protest gathering the same day.

The unrest began after The Tribune exposed the Centre’s PU restructuring plan on November 1, sparking a political storm that forced the Union Government to withdraw the move within a week. Four notifications issued between October 30 and November 7 were rolled back, yet anger on campus has continued to rise. For 20 days, students have held an uninterrupted dharna outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office, with community groups providing round-the-clock langar, tea, snacks and support.

At a major meeting attended by over 50 organisations — including powerful kisan unions, student bodies from across the ideological spectrum, employees’ groups and activists — the Morcha asserted that the fight must now extend to all PU-affiliated colleges in Punjab. Leaders said the Centre’s move to alter PU’s governance must be viewed within the broader framework of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which they argue promotes privatisation and centralisation of public universities.

Speakers also criticised what they called the Central Government’s attempt to divert the issue by portraying it as a Punjab–Haryana dispute. Representatives from Haryana attended the meeting to express solidarity and emphasised that the movement is a democratic struggle, not a regional confrontation.

The Morcha accused the administration of repeatedly delaying the Senate poll schedule and said it no longer trusts assurances after what it described as pressure tactics and a “vilification campaign” against student protesters. “If the notification does not come by November 25, PU will be shut down completely on November 26,” the Morcha announced.

The group also condemned alleged threats issued to advocate Aman (AFDR), who has been supporting the agitation, and criticised Chandigarh Police for not registering an FIR.

Participants suggested that if needed, BJP offices across Punjab could be gheraoed, since “the struggle is ultimately with the Central Government.”

The agitation gained political weight this week after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann raised the issue with Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the Northern Zonal Council meeting on November 17, asserting that PU “belongs to Punjab” and warning against attempts to infringe on the state’s rights.

As the protest entered Day 20, the Morcha said students would not bow to pressure and were prepared for a long struggle. With five days left for the administration to act, the standoff has reached a critical stage.