Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
The political atmosphere at Panjab University, Chandigarh, has intensified ahead of the Campus Students Council elections scheduled for August 31.
According to the final list of candidates, four contenders are in the fray for the president's post, five for vice president, three for secretary, and four for joint secretary. Following the release of the final candidate list, student organizations have stepped up their campaigning efforts, with candidates actively reaching out to students to garner support across the campus.
Amid the election campaign, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP from Punjab, Meet Hayer, has leveled serious allegations against the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). Hayer claimed that some students were allegedly receiving calls from gangsters pressuring them to vote in favor of ABVP candidates.
MP further alleged that certain Panjab University staff members were openly supporting ABVP and were visiting departments to persuade students to vote for the organization.
Hayer also claimed that an AAP leader residing in Himachal Pradesh and his father received a threatening phone call. According to him, the caller warned them to convince their son to stop supporting a rival student group and instead back ABVP, allegedly threatening them with dire consequences if they failed to comply.
Targeting the BJP, Hayer said that no one should assume that an atmosphere similar to West Bengal could be created at Panjab University. He asserted that students in the university make their own decisions and cannot be intimidated through fear of agencies or pressure tactics.
Responding to the allegations, Area DSP SPS Sondhi said that no formal complaint has been received by the police so far. He added that if any student or individual submits a complaint, the matter will be investigated thoroughly and appropriate legal action will be taken if the allegations are found to be true.
