'LPU targeted after owner joined BJP': Ex-Punjab CM Channi alleges political motive behind unrest

Former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi has alleged that the protests and violence at Lovely Professional University (LPU) were politically motivated. He claimed the university came under pressure after its founder, Ashok Mittal, joined the BJP.Channi also questioned the police response to the unrest and alleged that outsiders entered the campus and took part in the violence."Outsiders went there and engaged in hooliganism. This hooliganism was sponsored by the Police themselves. LPU Founder Ashok Mittal has joined the BJP, and after that, the Aam Aadmi Party government has tried to destroy this University," Channi said.He repeated his allegation that people from outside the university later entered the campus and created trouble."After that, what happened, people from outside came and engaged in hooliganism there," he said.Channi seeks answers over students, lossesChanni also questioned reports that the university suffered financial losses of around Rs 100 crore during the unrest, while stressing that he could not confirm the figure himself."A loss of around 100 crore rupees, as reported—I don't know for sure—has occurred, so who is responsible?" he asked.He further alleged that students were subjected to excessive force and questioned why action had not been taken against police personnel accused of assaulting them."And after that, students were beaten up severely; who is responsible for that? Why was no action taken against those police officers and personnel who beat up the students so brutally? And why was the situation not handled in time?" he said.Congress attacks govt's responseFormer Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa also criticised the government's handling of the situation. He said the authorities should have responded more quickly after students began protesting."What happened in LPU, the govt has acted very late...they should have acted swiftly. Students came to the street, protested. This should not work like this," Randhawa said.Randhawa also rejected State Railway Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu's allegation that the student protest was intended to disrupt an upcoming AAP event. He said students should not be portrayed in such a manner."Students should not be demeaned. This is Bittu's habit to speak like this, which has no meaning. I suggest he not deliver such a statement, being the grandson of a politician, which could fracture the image of the state," he said.Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Bhawar Jitendra Singh, meanwhile, raised allegations of "vote chori" across Punjab."Complaints are being received all across the state on vote chori. He is just a chief of the ECI. But the system, BJP, which is involved in it must be discussed."Police say dialogue was used to defuse tensionPunjab director general of police Gaurav Yadav said police had exercised restraint and relied on dialogue to bring the situation under control after a large number of students gathered at LPU following "late-night rumours about certain incidents".Yadav said the unrest began during the intervening night of September 26 and 27. Students gathered on the campus, followed by some vandalism and the setting on fire of part of a gate.Senior police officers, including DIG Jalandhar Range Navin Singla and Kapurthala SSP, reached the university. Police then held discussions with students to hear their grievances against the university administration.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.