Chandigarh: Student organisations staged a protest at Panjab University (PU) on Saturday against the alleged “glorification of former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar” by some Congress leaders.The protest followed remarks attributed to Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda and social media posts by some Congress leaders paying tribute to Kumar. Hooda had also visited the PU campus earlier this week to interact with members of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI).Students associated with organisations such as Panjabnama, SATH, Saakhi and Students for Society (SFS) participated in the demonstration. Protesters criticised Hooda for allegedly stating that his death was a major loss. They objected to what they described as attempts to praise a leader convicted in a case related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Addressing the gathering, representatives of the participating organisations said glorifying Kumar was unacceptable given his conviction. A SATH representative alleged that Kumar was responsible for violence against Sikhs and said the protest was aimed at challenging what the group described as majoritarian politics. The speaker added that their opposition was rooted in the teachings and struggles associated with Sikh Gurus.The protesters also criticised the BJP, RSS and Congress, alleging that students must take a stand against political forces they believe are responsible for injustice and repression. Speakers invoked the legacy of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra while discussing issues related to the 1984 anti-Sikh violence and state repression. The demonstration also highlighted wider concerns related to Punjab, including water, education and land issues. Student groups urged young people to raise these matters both on campus and beyond. The protest comes amid heightened political activity at the university ahead of the upcoming Panjab University Campus Students Council (PUCSC) elections.
