One issue on which all parties are one at PU: Revival of open house

Now,with just a week left for the elections,the demand for the revival of open house has gained momentum once again,with student leaders promising the authorities that if allowed,the open house will be conducted without any chaos or violence.

Dalbir Singh Goldy,a member of the NSUI’s national executive team,says,“We can assure the authorities that the open house will be conducted without any type of violence. The open house is important for the student leaders as well as the voters,as it allows a direct interaction,which forms the basis of a democracy.”

Open houses used to be one of the major events conducted a day or two before the election date in the university wherein panel members from each student organisation were allotted a specific amount of time to speak on the stage,after which questions were invited from students. “It was one event which everybody in the university waited for,” recalls Goldy.

The last open house was conducted in 2009,after which the authorities decided to stop it,citing the Lyngdoh guidelines,presence of outsiders during the interaction and incidents of violence between the parties. While the Lyngdoh guidelines ban the use of loudspeakers and campaigning within 48 hours before the elections,there is no word about the open house. “If the authorities allow open house,we are ready to hold it without any loudspeakers. But at least there should be an open house,” says Prabhpreet,president of SFI unit.

While Vice-Chancellor Arun Kumar Grover has expressed no objection to the demand for the open house,the authorities continue to maintain that there will not be any open house this year too.

“The university can increase security,allow only one leader on the stage and implement other rules,but it should revive open house,” says Jaideep Kumar,chairman,INSO.