Ludhiana, August 30: The Sajha Mulazim Manch (Joint Employees’ Forum) has set September 7 as the deadline for the Punjab government to withdraw a notice issued against employees participating in protests, warning that government employees will go on mass leave on September 8 if the notice is not revoked.
The Punjab government had directed administrative secretaries and heads of departments to submit details of employees who remained absent from duty without authorisation on August 27 while protesting against the government. The directive followed complaints from members of the public regarding difficulties in accessing government services.
At a meeting of government employees in Ludhiana, the Forum announced a fresh schedule of protests over pending demands, including the payment of Dearness Allowance (DA). District-level meetings will be held across Punjab on September 6.
The employees have also announced protests outside the residences or offices of state ministers on September 12 and 13, followed by demonstrations involving other MLAs and ministers on September 19 and 20.
On September 30, the employees will hold a symbolic Vidhan Sabha session in Chandigarh, where chairs will be arranged for MPs and MLAs and questions will be raised before them.
The protest programme has been named the “Satta Wapsi” campaign and is aimed at the office of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s Secretariat in Chandigarh.
A rally is scheduled to be held in Sangrur on October 10, while government employees across Punjab have announced mass leave on October 21 and 22.
Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal criticised the state government over its handling of the employees’ protests and said the government had failed to address their concerns despite directions from the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Badal said the Shiromani Akali Dal would support the employees and promised to address their pending demands, including issues related to DA and other service benefits, if the party returned to power in Punjab.