Why Punjab Finance Ninister Harpal Singh Cheema is facing government employees’ ire
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema is facing discontent among government employees ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. Thousands of employees, demanding the implementation of the Old Pension Scheme, marched from Sangrur district to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's village. Cheema, whose village is in the same district, has become a target for protests due to his department's responsibilities.
The finance minister has been at the center of multiple protests, including one on August 7 where employees demanded release of pending dearness allowance arrears. Employee organizations claim that Punjab government employees are currently receiving 42% DA, compared to 60% for Central government employees. Other protests involve sanitation workers, MGNREGA staff, and employees from various departments, seeking regularisation, state pay scales, and OPS implementation.
With around seven lakh government employees and a high debt level, Cheema's handling of these demands presents a significant challenge for the AAP government. The AAP government has invited protest leaders for talks on August 27, ahead of a "Maha bandh" on the same day.
Written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
