Amritsar March 22:
While teachers of Khalsa College are already up in arms against the proposed conversion of the college into a private university, the old students’ association has also come out against the move.
The Khalsa College Old Students Association, Amritsar, has sought the immediate intervention of the President and the Minorities Commission on the issue besides threatening to resort to a fast against the proposal. The association said the conversion of the college into a private university at the cost of the college was not acceptable to Sikhs who were hurt by the move.
“The college is the property of the Sikh community as a number of philanthropists donated their land for the construction of the college,” claimed Dhanwant Singh Sandhu, president of the association, while countering the claim of the college management that the land was bought by the Governing Council to construct the college building. “If the land was purchased, the management should clarify from where the funds came for this,” added Dhanwant Singh.
The association also raised questions over changing the Khalsa College Governing Council into the Khalsa College Charitable Society. Jaspal Singh, member of the general house of the council, who was present at the press conference, alleged that the matter never came before the general house meeting. The association alleged that the present office-bearers who were promoting this move were close aides of senior ministers of the ruling party, their family members and relatives.
It also expressed surprise over the grant of an NoC by Guru Nanak Dev University which they alleged was due to “some bargaining” between the management and the university authorities. Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal (1920) senior vice-presidents Raghubir Singh Rajasansi and Darshan Singh Isapur announced that the party would approach the court against the move. The Pendu Mazdoor Union urged the authorities not to go ahead with the plan. Dharminder Ajnala of the union said they would support the college employees’ struggle.
While teachers of Khalsa College are already up in arms against the proposed conversion of the college into a private university, the old students’ association has also come out against the move.
The Khalsa College Old Students Association, Amritsar, has sought the immediate intervention of the President and the Minorities Commission on the issue besides threatening to resort to a fast against the proposal. The association said the conversion of the college into a private university at the cost of the college was not acceptable to Sikhs who were hurt by the move.
“The college is the property of the Sikh community as a number of philanthropists donated their land for the construction of the college,” claimed Dhanwant Singh Sandhu, president of the association, while countering the claim of the college management that the land was bought by the Governing Council to construct the college building. “If the land was purchased, the management should clarify from where the funds came for this,” added Dhanwant Singh.
The association also raised questions over changing the Khalsa College Governing Council into the Khalsa College Charitable Society. Jaspal Singh, member of the general house of the council, who was present at the press conference, alleged that the matter never came before the general house meeting. The association alleged that the present office-bearers who were promoting this move were close aides of senior ministers of the ruling party, their family members and relatives.
It also expressed surprise over the grant of an NoC by Guru Nanak Dev University which they alleged was due to “some bargaining” between the management and the university authorities. Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal (1920) senior vice-presidents Raghubir Singh Rajasansi and Darshan Singh Isapur announced that the party would approach the court against the move. The Pendu Mazdoor Union urged the authorities not to go ahead with the plan. Dharminder Ajnala of the union said they would support the college employees’ struggle.
