SANTA CALARA, CA- Satnam Singh Chahal, Executive Director of the North American Punjabi Association (NAPA), has strongly demanded that a special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha be immediately convened to deliberate on the Centre’s move to dissolve the Senate of Panjab University.
Chahal stated that the decision of the Union Government to dissolve the Senate — an autonomous and democratic body representing the academic and intellectual voice of Punjab — is a direct attack on the federal spirit and on the rights of Punjabis over their own institutions. He emphasised that Panjab University has been historically, culturally, and constitutionally linked to the State of Punjab, and any unilateral move by the Centre without the consent of the Punjab Government is unacceptable.
He further said that this dissolution is not merely an administrative change but a calculated attempt to erode Punjab’s control over its premier educational institution. The issue, he added, deserves urgent debate and collective action from all political parties within the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to safeguard the state’s educational and constitutional interests.
Chahal urged all political parties, irrespective of their ideological differences, to unite in defending the rights and autonomy of Punjab’s academic institutions. He reiterated that NAPA stands firmly with the teachers, students, and alumni of Panjab University in opposing this undemocratic decision.
In his concluding statement, Chahal said, “This is not just about a university — it is about the dignity, identity, and democratic rights of Punjab. If Punjab loses control over its own educational institutions, the very foundation of its autonomy will be weakened.”