Protests continue over costlier meals in PU mess

With the issue of the mess meal hike heating up, protesting students have declared an indefinite protest with seven students going on a hunger strike, including two girls, even as the Vice-Chancellor asked the students on Wednesday to resume discipline.

The number of protesting students went over 150 on Wednesday, who gathered outside the V-C office to shout slogans. Police personnel had to be called as the protesters tried to forcibly enter the V-C office, with a scuffle ensuing between them and the students. Some of the protesting boys went shirtless to garner the attention of the authorities.

Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor called a meeting with the university authorities to look into the demand raised by the students sitting on the dharna. The members who attended the meeting included the advisor to V-C, Dean University Instruction, Dean Student Welfare (W), Dean Student Welfare, PUTA Secretary, wardens of boys and girls hostels and the president and secretary of the Panjab University Campus Students Council (PUSCS).

An eleven-member committee has been formed for negotiation of the increased rates of eatables at the Student Centre shops. The members include Dean Student Welfare, Dean Student Welfare (W), Warden of Boys Hostel No 1 Dr Jatinder Grover, Warden of Boys Hostel No 7 Dr Yog Raj, Warden of Girls Hostel No 3, Dr Madhuri Rishi, and president, vice president, secretary and joint secretary of the PUCSC, two students' representative and DR (DSW).

V-C Arun Grover addressed the protestors and appealed to the students to withdraw the dharna and cooperate in maintaining discipline and law and order in the campus. "Since no funds with the university are available to give any consideration for food subsidy to all the hostel residents except the economically weaker sections which is already in practice, students should come forward to start cooperative messes and keep the diet rate under their control as per their wishes," said Grover.

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