CHANDIGARH, June 1 — Facing mounting backlash from students and political parties, outgoing Panjab University Campus Student Council (PUCSC) president Anurag Dalal on Saturday withdrew his controversial proposal to rename Panjab University as “Panjab and Haryana University.”
Dalal, a Haryana native, had submitted the memorandum to PU Vice-Chancellor Renu Vig on Thursday—the final day of his council’s term. In his submission, he argued that Punjab and Haryana share cultural and historical ties, and that the proposed renaming was in line with institutions such as the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
“I did not intend to hurt anyone’s sentiments,” Dalal wrote on social media. “If students felt offended, I apologise.”
Despite retracting the renaming proposal, Dalal reiterated his demand for the affiliation of Haryana colleges to Panjab University.
His suggestion triggered immediate political reaction across Punjab. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) both condemned the move, framing it as an attack on Punjab’s heritage.
“We will not allow any political manoeuvre to alter the name or legacy of Panjab University,” said BJP Punjab spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal, demanding clarity from Congress and AAP on their stand regarding the university’s identity.
AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang accused Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda of echoing BJP’s agenda. “This is an attempt to dilute Punjab’s cultural and constitutional heritage,” Kang said.
Kang also pointed to historical precedent: “In 1973, Haryana’s colleges voluntarily disaffiliated from Panjab University under the leadership of Bansi Lal. On what grounds is the claim being revived now?”
He further alleged a broader agenda by the BJP to undermine the university’s autonomy. “The Senate elections have been stalled for two years. The BJP is crippling the institution’s democratic functioning, and Congress is aligning with this approach,” Kang stated.
Congress MP Hooda, who supported Dalal’s original proposal, had earlier announced plans to raise the issue in the upcoming Parliament session with backing from fellow party MPs.
With the student council’s term ending, the controversy has sparked wider discourse on the university’s legacy, affiliations, and governance.
