Now Reading: Punjab employees protest OPS, DA dues ahead of 2027 polls
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Punjab employees protest OPS, DA dues ahead of 2027 polls
Hundreds of Punjab government employees and pensioners staged an anti-government protest in Chandigarh on Friday (August 7, 2026), demanding restoration of the Old Pension Scheme and release of pending 18% dearness allowance.…
The Story in Brief
Hundreds of Punjab government employees and pensioners staged an anti-government protest in Chandigarh on Friday (August 7, 2026), demanding restoration of the Old Pension Scheme and release of pending 18% dearness allowance. The Aam Aadmi Party, which promised OPS before the 2022 assembly polls, has not fulfilled that pledge. Police used water cannons to stop protesters marching towards the State Assembly.
Employees’ groups under the banner of Punjab Mulazam and Pensioners Front and Sanjha Mulazam Manch Punjab led the demonstration. Sukhchain Singh Khaira warned of a complete strike on August 27 if demands are not met. Opposition leaders, Congress’s Partap Singh Bajwa, SAD’s Sukhbir Badal, and BJP’s Sunil Jakhar, backed the protesters and criticised the AAP government.
The Indian Opinion
The usual blame game has begun, Opposition parties call the AAP government anti-employee, while the ruling party points to fiscal constraints. But ordinary Punjabis see a pattern: pre-election promises on OPS and DA are now battling the reality of empty coffers. Neither side is offering a clear timeline or a funded plan. The real test will come on August 27, if the promised complete strike materialises, it will show whether employee anger has turned into a lasting political challenge for AAP.
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
