Sources in the university claim that the Punjab Government has been giving grants running into crores to Punjabi University in Patiala for hosting events like the Punjabi World Conference but has never even thought about offering such grants to PU.

Prof Gurpal Singh Sandhu, organising secretary and a professor in the Punjabi Department, PU, says: “Representatives from almost every affiliated college have made it to this conference and it is all because of their support that we have been able to host this conference twice. Whatever contributions they make in the form of advertisements has kept the show going on. We are not getting support from any other quarter.”

The World Punjabi Conference that has been hosted by PU for the second time has delegates coming from across the country and foreign nations. Around 24 NRIs also participated in the conference.

Veena Verma, a Punjabi Writer from UK, said, ‘The arrangements are quite good and it is a wonderful platform arranged by the university where we can meet people of our origin. I believe that the organisers are a little under-staffed and need a bit of extra support.”

This is not the first time that the faculty has expressed its grudge against the state government for not allocating funds. According to sources, the state government has not been able to provide its share of Rs 38 crore in the budget for several years and has been getting away by giving only Rs 16 crore. Arrears to the tune of Rs 34 crore are due on part of the state government.

Besides the issue of funds, the government has also let down the varsity on the question of granting central status.