A united front of more than 50 organisations under the banner of Panjab University Bachao Morcha on Thursday announced that the university will observe a complete bandh on November 26 if the schedule for Senate elections is not announced by November 25.
At a detailed review meeting, attended by several kisan unions, student bodies, employees’ associations and social activists from Punjab and Haryana, the Morcha resolved to escalate the agitation if the election process continues to be delayed.
The meeting opened with coordinators apologising for the mismanagement of stage arrangements during the November 10 gathering, before briefing all groups on the ongoing talks with university authorities. Members expressed frustration that despite multiple meetings, no firm timeline had been declared, prompting the need for decisive action.
All participating organisations unanimously condemned what they termed the “rapid privatisation and centralisation of education” under the BJP-led Central Government. They asserted that the erosion of the PU Senate must be seen as part of a wider pattern linked to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which they said promotes “privatisation, centralised control and saffronisation” of educational institutions.
Speakers reminded participants that Panjab University has historic and constitutional ties with Punjab, and any attempt to weaken its democratic structure affects not only the campus but hundreds of affiliated colleges across the state. The meeting decided that the ongoing struggle should also extend outreach to these institutions in the coming days.
Representatives from Haryana-based organisations were present as well, countering attempts to portray the issue as a Punjab–Haryana dispute. They emphasised that the movement is a defence of democratic rights, not a regional fight, and expressed complete solidarity with the agitation.
Several groups suggested strengthening district-level coordination to expand the movement, along with exploring broader pressure tactics such as gheraoing BJP offices across Punjab, asserting that the core conflict lies with decisions of the Central Government.
The Morcha also condemned threats issued to Advocate Aman of the AFDR for his active role in the protests, criticising the authorities for not registering an FIR yet.
Kisan bodies including BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan), BKU Krantikari, various factions of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, BKU (Siddhupur), BKU (Dakaunda), BKU (Shaheed Bhagat Singh) from Haryana, and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha were among the key participants. Student groups present included PSUs, AISF, PSF, SFI, and AIDSO, while organisations such as Democratic Mulazim Front, CTU, Naujawan Bharat Sabha, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Naujawan Sabha, AFDR, OBC Federation Punjab and others also took part.
The Morcha reiterated that the agitation will intensify if the Senate schedule is not declared by November 25. If no announcement comes, Panjab University will remain shut for all academic and administrative activities on November 26, with the next phase of the campaign to be declared after further coordination with statewide organisations.
The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation that the fight will continue to protect the university’s democratic governance, academic autonomy and resistance against what groups describe as the creeping privatisation of public education.
