Tension escalates after CM Mann’s meeting with employees is cancelled; employees clash with police, talks assured next week

Chandigarh, 27 August (H.S.): Government functioning across Punjab was affected on Thursday as various government employee organisations observed a statewide ‘Employee Strike’ over pending Dearness Allowance (DA), restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and other demands. According to employee organisations, around 3 lakh employees participated in the strike, while nearly 3.5 lakh pensioners extended their support. More than 150 employee unions were reportedly part of the agitation.

The strike disrupted routine functioning at government offices, district administrative offices, tehsil offices and several departments across the state. With employees on mass casual leave, people visiting government offices for routine work faced inconvenience. In several places, citizens had to return without getting their work completed or wait until normal functioning resumed.

Employee organisations maintained that the agitation was limited to their demands. They said there was no call to block roads or force private establishments to shut, and essential public movement was not intended to be disrupted.

The impact of the strike was also felt in the healthcare sector. Outpatient Department (OPD) services were affected at several government hospitals. OPD services were reportedly closed at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar and a government healthcare facility in Hoshiarpur.

However, emergency services, treatment of admitted patients and other essential medical facilities continued, ensuring that patients requiring urgent care were not left without medical assistance.

Punjab’s government bus services, meanwhile, continued to operate normally. As a result, commuters did not face major disruption in public transport despite the statewide employee agitation.

The protesting employees are demanding the release of 18 per cent pending DA, restoration of the Old Pension Scheme and regularisation of contractual employees.

Other demands include implementation of minimum wages, restoration of the ACP scheme, extension of Punjab pay-scale benefits to employees recruited after July 17, 2020, and resolution of issues related to various allowances.

Employee organisations said that they had received assurances from the government several times in the past, but no concrete solution had been reached. The unions have also referred to orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court while demanding payment of pending DA.

CM Mann’s Meeting Cancellation Triggers Tension in Jalandhar

The situation became more tense in Jalandhar after a proposed meeting between Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and representatives of the protesting employees was cancelled.

A 16-member delegation of employee representatives had been deputed to hold talks with the Chief Minister. However, before the scheduled meeting, CM Mann stated that a strike and negotiations could not continue simultaneously.

The statement angered employee leaders, following which a large number of employees gathered at the Deputy Commissioner’s office complex and raised slogans against the government.

Police barricaded the main gate and deployed additional personnel to prevent the protesters from moving out of the premises. Some employees attempted to leave by scaling the boundary walls and using alternative routes, but police stopped them shortly after they moved out.

Amid the escalating situation, the Chief Minister was moved from the PAP Chowk area to his residence in Old Baradari.

The standoff continued for around half an hour, with employee leaders demanding direct talks with the Chief Minister. According to police officials, the employees were informed that the meeting had been deferred until next week.

However, employee representatives remained firm on their demand for immediate talks and reportedly refused to meet Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema or the Finance Department Secretary.

The Maha Hartal has therefore had a visible impact on government offices, administrative services and some healthcare facilities across Punjab. While routine public services were disrupted, emergency healthcare and government bus services continued.

The government and employee organisations remain locked in a standoff. The next round of talks is expected to determine whether a solution can be reached on pending DA, OPS restoration, employee regularisation and other demands, or whether the unions decide to intensify their agitation.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH