Mann to say no to  affiliating Haryana colleges with PU 

The neighbouring state had staked a claim on the affiliation stating that  under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, the colleges and regional centres of Haryana were affiliated to the varsity. However, Punjab issued a notification in 1973 abolishing the provision.

“In today’s era, the colleges of the states are also being affiliated with international universities. The aim of the National Education Policy is that all educational institutions should cooperate in the progress of the country and the mutual relations of all states should be further strengthened. Therefore, Haryana colleges should be affiliated with the PU,” Khattar had said.  “The Haryana government, along with the Centre, will take the PU forward so that the university becomes prosperous and its needs are fulfilled,” he had added.

After the meeting, Opposition parties in Punjab had hit out at CM Mann and stated that he should not give away the affiliation as this would mean sharing the university with Haryana and diluting Punjab’s claim on Chandigarh.
Both the states have already been at war over sharing of waters through Satluj Yamuna Link canal. Earlier Punjab had objected to centralisation of Punjab University by bringing a resolution in Vidhan Sabha. The centre had then denied it that the university was being centralised.

Latest demand by Khattar has come in the light of shortage of funds being faced by the university. Haryana has indicated that if their colleges are affiliated, the state could fund the university also.

SAD advises Mann against meeting Khattar
SAD Sunday asked Mann not to hold a meeting with his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar over the issue of affiliation of Haryana colleges with Panjab University.

Mann in his response had said his government was committed to avert any change in the nature and character of the Panjab University (PU), saying the university is heritage of the state. In a statement here on Sunday, SAD senior leader Daljit Singh Cheema said, “CM Bhagwant Mann should keep away from all meetings which seek to change the character of the Panjab University and should have registered a strong protest with the Punjab Governor on this issue.” Cheema said Haryana did not have any stake in the PU after the voluntary disaffiliation of its colleges from the University in 1978.

“It even stopped funding the University subsequently. Now it seems an effort is afoot to gain control over the democratically elected institutions which govern the University – the Senate and the Syndicate by affiliating colleges from Haryana to the varsity. “Besides this, it is aimed at diluting Punjab’s claim to the university which right now only has colleges from Punjab affiliated to it. This will also strengthen Haryana’s claim over Chandigarh,” he said. Cheema also alleged the recent demands of Haryana to secure land in Chandigarh to build its separate Vidhan Sabha was also aimed at strengthening its hold over Chandigarh.  Cheema said concerted efforts had been made in recent years to weaken Punjab’s hold in the UT administration.

He said such attempts included not maintaining the 60:40 ratio in posting of Punjab and Haryana officers in Chandigarh, creating a UT cadre and posting officers from this cadre on important civil and police posts, giving central pay scales to UT employees, and not designating Punjabi as the official language of communication.

With PTI inputs