Punjab govt employees intensify agitation, set Sept 8 mass leave over notices
Ludhiana: Punjab government employees under the banner of the Punjab Sanjha Mulazam Manch Committee have announced plans to intensify their agitation, warning of a mass leave on September 8 if show-cause notices issued over their recent statewide strike are not withdrawn.
According to reports, the decision was taken at a three-hour meeting of representatives of protesting employees’ bodies in Ludhiana to chalk out their next course of action.
The committee has given the AAP-led Punjab government until September 7 to withdraw the notices seeking explanations from employees for their alleged “unauthorised” absence during the statewide strike on August 27.
The state Personnel Department had earlier directed administrative secretaries and heads of departments to issue notices to employees who remained “unauthorised absent” and initiate disciplinary action against them as per rules.
Unions also threatened ministerial residence gheraos and fresh protests, demanding withdrawal of the notices and immediate release of pending 18% Dearness Allowance.
More than three lakh government employees had participated in the August 27 strike by taking mass casual leave to press for their long-pending demands, affecting public services across the state. Over 150 employees’ organisations joined the ‘Maha Hartal’ under the Punjab Sanjha Mulazam Manch, while more than 3.5 lakh pensioners also participated in the protest.
