Chandigarh, October 28: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has questioned Punjab University’s decision to cancel a seminar dedicated to the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji, with party MP Malvinder Singh Kang terming the move “deeply disappointing.”
Kang, who represents Sri Anandpur Sahib in Parliament, said the university should encourage academic discussion instead of “yielding to external influence.” “Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib’s sacrifice is an eternal message of courage and freedom of faith. It deserves open and honest discussion in our institutions,” he said.
He alleged that the permission for the October 27 event was withdrawn “under pressure from higher authorities,” and linked the decision to broader efforts to “limit conversations about Punjab’s spiritual and cultural icons.” “This isn’t an isolated decision,” Kang remarked. “It fits into a pattern where free academic spaces are shrinking.”
The MP said students had informed him that the seminar was cancelled after the inclusion of Sikh scholar Sardar Ajmer Singh as a speaker. “Sardar Ajmer Singh has been contributing to academic and literary discussions for decades,” Kang said. “To prevent his participation on grounds of being controversial undermines academic independence.”
Calling the move “a setback for students’ right to learn,” Kang has written to Vice Chancellor Prof. Renu Vig seeking restoration of permission for the event. “The younger generation must be exposed to Guru Sahib’s vision of peace, equality, and human dignity,” he noted in his letter.
Kang also drew parallels between the latest controversy and the earlier removal of a portrait of Shaheed Bhai Jaswant Singh Khalra, saying such actions “dilute Punjab’s historical memory.”
He urged the university to “stand firm against any external pressure” and maintain the dignity of academic spaces. “The AAP government in Punjab will always support initiatives that protect the state’s heritage and ensure freedom of expression,” Kang said, adding that dialogue and debate were central to the university’s role in society.
