Student Protest at Panjab University Seminar Leads to Police Action

A seminar held at Panjab University in Chandigarh on Monday sparked protests from several student organizations, leading to clashes with the police. Demonstrating students opposing speakers associated with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) alleged that they were manhandled and subjected to a lathi-charge by the police. Some protesters were also taken into custody.

According to student leader Ashmeet Singh, vice-president of the student council and a member of Sath, a memorandum had been submitted two days earlier to the Dean of Student Welfare opposing the seminar. The event, organized under the theme related to the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur and the Panj Pyare, featured RSS member Banveer Singh and BJP leader Iqbal Singh Lalpura as keynote speakers.

Student groups claimed that the invited speakers have previously made controversial remarks about Sikh history and had requested the administration to cancel the program. Despite the objections, the seminar was held at the university’s Law Auditorium and was attended by Vice-Chancellor Professor Renu Vig.

Leaders from student organizations including PSU (Lalkar) and SFS said they had warned the administration that they would protest if the event was not cancelled. When students gathered to demonstrate, they allege that police arrived in large numbers under the supervision of a DSP and began detaining protesters without prior discussion.

Students claim that during the confrontation, police pushed and dragged protesters, causing injuries and knocking off some students’ turbans. Protesters raised slogans against what they described as “fascism” and the RSS before several of them were taken into custody.

Student organizations have announced a press conference on March 10 to address the issue and said a demonstration will also be held afterward.