Panjab University’s Bachao Morcha entered its seventeenth straight day on Monday, with students refusing to step back until the administration announces the long-pending Senate election schedule. What started as a quiet sit-in by a handful of students has now grown into a campus-wide movement drawing support from alumni, teachers, farmers, nihang groups and civil and social groups and political leaders across Punjab.
Ashmeet Singh, vice-president of PU Student's Union said, their demand is straightforward, the university must immediately notify the election process and restore the democratic functioning that has stalled in the absence of an elected Senate.
He said that major academic and financial decisions are being held up or taken without proper oversight, and that delaying elections any further will only deepen mistrust among the students.
Through the day, the protest site near the Vice-Chancellor’s office remained busy, with groups of students holding discussions, staging symbolic marches and interacting with visitors who came to show solidarity. Alumni travelling from nearby towns, retired professors who once served on governing bodies, and even parents concerned about their children’s future stopped by to express support. Many said the students’ stand reflects a wider sentiment in Punjab about safeguarding Panjab University’s historic character and autonomy.
Students said that the university administration last week urged students to return to classes and assured them that the matter was under consideration with higher authorities. However, the Morcha rejected the appeals, saying they would not end the sit-in without a firm, public notification. With semester exams drawing near, the situation has caused anxiety among students who are not part of the protest as well, but the demonstrators insist that responsibility for the disruption lies with the authorities.
Late-evening interactions between university officials and student representatives have failed to break the deadlock. While the Vice-Chancellor has stated that the administration has forwarded all necessary recommendations to the Centre, students say they are no longer willing to rely on verbal assurances, especially after recent developments around the restructuring of the Senate and Syndicate.
Campus life continues under a cloud of uncertainty, but the protest remains peaceful. Volunteers at the Morcha are managing round-the-clock duties, distributing water, coordinating medical assistance and ensuring that the agitation stays disciplined. The growing footfall at the protest site over the past week has only strengthened the students’ resolve.
Meanwhile, as the movement enters its third week, the pressure on the administration is steadily rising. With support pouring in daily and no clear word on when the Senate polls will be announced, the students say their strike will continue “for as long as it takes” to restore the university’s democratic functioning.
