AISA leads the struggle for Campus Democracy in Gidderbaha, Punjab

The town of Gidderbaha falls in the Mukhtsar district of Punjab. It is the home turf of the Badals, the political family which currently rules the state. Manpreet Badal, the MLA from this constituency, is also the current finance minister of Punjab. A few years ago, the Badal family illegally acquired the building of the only government college in Gidderbaha. This building was allotted to the Badal’s own private school, and the college was shifted 4-5 kms away from the town. For some years now, the town had had only a single college — M.M.D.A.V. College, which is a private-aided institution.

This college is controlled by a managing committee that consists of some Congress politicians. All types of student rights were strictly curbed and curtailed by the college management and there was a complete absence of campus democracy. The college management was so fascist in its approach, that students were expelled from college for even the mildest of protest activity.  Monetary fines were imposed at will: for example, if a students’ mobile phone rang in class, he or she was promptly fined 200 rupees; if a student missed two consecutive classes of any subject, they were fined a 1000 rupees. Any type of disciplinary action, usually took the form of suspension, expulsion or the imposition of a monetary fine.

At the start of the new academic session in July, the college management imposed a new dictatorial decision: the classes of male and female students were to be separated for no given reason. All students opposed the move unitedly. But when the students protested, the college management called in the police and also ordered the expulsion of three students. The students then brought the matter to AISA’s national councilor, Harmeet Smagh.

On 30^th July, the students observed a strike under the banner of AISA. All students gathered in a big, and the meeting was addressed by AISA leaders. Seeing this united action on the part of the students, the college authorities retreated and requested talks with the AISA leadership. A delegation led by AISA activists met the college authorities to discuss the students’ demands. After considerable discussion, the authorities agreed to accept all the students’ demands. Revolutionary slogans were raised at this victory and the students resolved to vigilantly continue the struggle for their rights and for campus democracy.