Chandigarh: At least 20 student leaders and activists were detained by Chandigarh Police Monday after they gathered outside Panjab University’s Convention Centre to protest a symposium featuring speakers linked to organisations ideologically associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).The protest was organised under the banner “PU Against Saffronisation”, a coalition of student groups that had demanded cancellation of the symposium, “Shakti & Srishti – Recognising the Role of Women as the Architect of a Sustainable World”. The groups objected to the participation of V Shanta Kumari, Pramukh Sanchalika of the Rashtra Sevika Samiti, and Sadhvi Ritambhara, founder of Durga Vahini.The development came days after student organisations opposed holding the event on the university campus. Following those protests, PU officials had stated that the two invited speakers would address only the afternoon session at Tagore Theatre and not the university programme.Despite the assurance, student groups assembled outside the Convention Centre Monday morning, insisting that no part of the event should be held on campus. Police stopped the protesters from moving towards the venue and detained at least 20 of them, taking them to Sector 24 police station. They were later released after the morning session concluded.In a statement, the coalition alleged that the university had gone back on its assurance and accused police of forcibly detaining students who were attempting to march peacefully towards the venue. The groups condemned the police action and reiterated their opposition to the event.Student organisations later gathered at the Students’ Centre and raised slogans against the symposium and the police action.The symposium was organised under the Viksit Bharat@2047 initiative in collaboration with the department of social welfare, women and child development, Chandigarh administration. The afternoon session at Tagore Theatre went ahead amid heavy police deployment.
