PAU union suspends its vice-president

Union president Harbans Singh Mundi said: “We had to take this decision as we felt that Sandhu was trying to weaken the union. We planned to launch an agitation against the state government as it was unanimously decided that stern action needs to be taken as our salaries are not being released on time. We all decided that a fast unto death would be the right way to protest. Being the head of the union,I took it upon myself to lead the fast. During the agitation,Sandhu stood by the union.”

He added: “But within three days,N S Kang,the acting V-C of PAU gave orders to the university authorities to ensure that our salaries are released on time. We all agreed to call off our protest. However,Sandhu started giving statements to media,claiming that all this was just a ploy to gain publicity.”

Sandhu is a firebrand member of the executive and is known for his speeches during protest rallies. He takes on the administration and does not shirk from speaking against the officials which at time does not go down well with some people. A senior member of the executive said: “Sandhu speaks well but at times we need to take the middle path. We need to launch agitations and speak against the authorities but also keep in mind the fact that we have to get our demands accepted and not simply annoy them.”

Sandhu was also at loggerheads with former V-C Dr Manjit Singh Kang,who had transferred him out of the main campus. Sandhu was brought back after the union brokered peace between the two parties.