Pargat Singh raises concern over shocking images released by students showing the dilapidated condition of hostels at Punjabi University, Patiala.
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
Padma Shri Pargat Singh, MLA and Secretary of the All India Congress Committee, has once again punctured the Aam Aadmi Party government’s tall claims of an “education revolution” in Punjab. Expressing grave concern over the collapsing state of infrastructure in government colleges and universities, Singh warned that the government's negligence could result in a major tragedy. He made it clear that if such a tragedy occurs, the responsibility will rest squarely on the shoulders of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and his government.
Singh said that while the government ignores recruitment of professors in government colleges—weakening higher education—it simultaneously spends crores of rupees on advertisements branding their so-called “education revolution.” Meanwhile, Punjabi University, Patiala, and many other institutions are in a state of alarming disrepair. “When students and professors are forced to take to the streets for their basic demands, how can learning thrive?” Singh asked.
Referring to pictures released by the Punjabi University Students Union, Singh highlighted that all major hostels—including Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, Mai Bhago, Homi Bhabha, Bhagat Puran, Dr B.R. Ambedkar, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Bhai Vir Singh, Amrita Shergill, Silver Jubilee, and Bibi Sahib Kaur hostels—have not seen proper maintenance for years. Ceilings are crumbling, cement is falling, lifts are malfunctioning and even collapsing, and bathrooms are in deplorable condition. Students are being forced to live in unsafe environments, risking their lives daily.
The Punjabi Students Union (Lalkar) has already announced a protest outside Punjabi University’s main gate on September 25. Singh urged the AAP government to resolve these issues before the protest, ensuring students’ safety and enabling them to focus on their studies rather than agitation.
“The Congress Party stands firmly with the students. They are Punjab’s future, and they deserve proper facilities, safe hostels, and a conducive environment to study,” Singh asserted. He demanded that the government immediately undertake repairs, modernise infrastructure, and address the long-standing neglect of Punjab’s higher education system.
“Punjab’s students need dignity and safety, not hollow slogans and glossy advertisements. The time for posturing is over—the time for real governance is now.”