Background: Suspension Sparks Outrage on Campus
The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana witnessed heightened tensions on Tuesday after a junior lab assistant, Amrik Singh, was allegedly suspended under political pressure following a verbal dispute with a local leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The controversial move triggered widespread outrage among non-teaching staff, who called for a peaceful protest—only to face an unexpected crackdown as police forces flooded the campus, detaining union leaders and blocking access to several parts of the university.
The incident dates back to March 27, when Singh reportedly had a verbal altercation with a local AAP leader in the university’s parking area. Though the matter was resolved by March 29 through mutual compromise, Singh was suspended days later without formal explanation. According to the PAU Employees Union, the action was taken under political duress, allegedly on orders from the state government.
Heavy Police Deployment Shocks Faculty and Staff
As news of the suspension spread, the PAU Employees Union scheduled a peaceful agitation for April 22. However, before the protest could begin, police entered the campus, detained several union leaders from their homes and offices, and restricted movement across the university. Witnesses reported that gates were shut, faculty and staff were subjected to ID checks, and top police officials, including Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain and Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma, were present on-site.
“This is unprecedented. Never before have police interfered in internal university matters to this extent,” said Mandeep Singh Gill, President of the PAU Teachers Association. “The entire campus was locked down like a military zone. Even faculty members were being harassed.”
Political Fallout: Opposition Leaders Rally in Support
With Ludhiana West Assembly constituency headed for a bypoll, the protest quickly turned political. Congress candidate and former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, along with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate Parupkar Singh Ghumman, visited the campus to support the protesting staff. Ashu sharply criticized the AAP government in a post on X (formerly Twitter):
“The AAP which was born out of anarchic protests is not even allowing democratic protests by people suffering at their hands. The AAP government has turned PAU into a garrison.”
Jaskaran Singh, a senior academician and former dean at PAU, echoed similar sentiments, stating, “This reflects a lack of administrative backbone. The rights of the university staff to protest peacefully are being violated.”
Administration Responds: V-C Requests Time to Resolve Issue
A high-level meeting between union president Baldev Singh Walia, Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma, and PAU Vice Chancellor Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal was held to defuse tensions. Post meeting, Walia reported that the V-C has sought three days to resolve the issue and consider the reinstatement of Amrik Singh. However, no clear justification for the suspension has yet been provided.
“The V-C admitted the suspension was ordered by higher-ups in the state government. We will wait three days, but if there is no action, we will resume our agitation,” said Walia.
Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain defended the police action, saying the force was deployed to avoid disruption to academic activities. Both the V-C and police commissioner were unavailable for comment as they were reportedly engaged in meetings.
Calls for Restoration of Democratic Space on Campus
As the campus returns to normalcy, many are left reflecting on the broader implications of the day’s events. Academics and political analysts say the incident raises serious concerns about democratic rights, freedom of expression, and the autonomy of educational institutions in India.
“It’s not just about one suspension—it’s about setting a dangerous precedent where political influence dictates administrative decisions at premier universities,” said a PAU faculty member on condition of anonymity.
The coming days will be crucial as the university administration faces pressure from all sides to rectify the situation, uphold democratic norms, and restore campus harmony.
Category: Education News, Indian Politics, Campus Protests, Punjab News
Tags: PAU Ludhiana, AAP controversy, employee suspension, Amrik Singh, campus lockdown, Punjab politics, university protest, police crackdown, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, non-teaching staff protest, PAU Employees Union, VC Dr Satbir Singh Gosal
