This was announced by Dr M S Mahal in a joint statement issued by Punjab Agricultural University Teachers Association (PAUTA), PAU Employees Union and PAU Fourth Class Workers Union.

These organizations have shown grave concern that the PAU pensioners have not been paid pension for the last two months, and that the state government is dragging its feet on the issue. The union members asserted that it is the responsibility of the state government to bear the liabilities of PAU, which was created primarily to meet its’ social obligation of increasing agricultural productivity, and upliftment of the farming community.

Asserted PAUTA general secretary Dr Mukesh Siag, “There is a feeling of deep mistrust against the government among all employees, and they are of the view that the pension crisis is a deliberate attempt by the government to destabilize and weaken the university, and force PAU to part with its land. It is ironical that GADVASU, created out of PAU, is being provided full budgetary support by the same government to pay pension to its retirees. The PAU Teachers Association, PAU Employees union and PAU Fourth Class Workers Union collectively hope that observation of Black Day will serve as a wake up call to the state government.”