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Journalism of Courage
A day after The Indian Express reported that two scientists Ritu and Sandeep Sandhu from Agricultural Meteorology Department of Punjab Agricultural University were transferred by the vice-chancellor for their research fields being in bad shape near gate number 4, pointed out by Agricultural Minister Tota Singh, the PAU Teachers’ Association (PAUTA) on Monday took up the issue with the vice-chancellor terming the action “too harsh”.
The orders were immediately issued by the V-C after the minister’s departure on the inaugural day of Kisan Mela on September 12. Singh told V-C B S Dhillon that “fields near gate number 4 were in poor shape and not maintained properly”.
“I told PAU V-C to look after fields,” Tota Singh told The Indian Express. “What impression will we give to farmers when our fields are not maintained?”
However, he added that “his intention was never to get teachers transferred”. “I just told V-C to maintain fields, not to transfer teachers,” he said.
On Monday, PAUTA took up the issue with the V-C, presenting copies of The Indian Express as proof. K S Sangha, president of PAUTA told The Indian Express, “We always had an impression that transfers were done due to wrong weather forecasting as the rain ruined the mela but we got to know the real reason later. We showed news clippings to the V-C and he agreed that transfers were done due to poor research fields. We have told him to review the decision.”
‘Mission cleanliness’ also started near gate number 4 fields which were pointed out by Tota Singh. On Monday, labourers were deputed to clean weeds and grass from research fields. One of the labourers said, “We have been ordered by the higher authorities to clean fields. L K Dhaliwal, head, agro met, also visited fields.”
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