Chandigarh: Senior Congress leader and leader of opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Partap Singh Bajwa, has extended his support to the statewide ‘Maha Bandh’ being observed by govt employee unions and pensioner organisations on Thursday, saying the protest reflects the growing frustration among employees who have repeatedly been ignored by AAP govt.Bajwa said that all the members of Congress Legislative Party have also extended their support to the bandh. Bajwa said the contrast between Mann govt’s initial attitude towards employees and its present conduct could not be more stark.“When Bhagwant Mann first came to the Punjab civil secretariat as CM, govt employees welcomed him with flower petals. Today, those very employees who welcomed him with respect are being treated with disrespect and are being forced to take to the streets and courts to secure their legitimate rights. This is deeply unfortunate,” Bajwa said.He said AAP govt announced the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme during the Himachal Pradesh election period and notified it on Nov 18, 2022, but has failed to implement it even after nearly four and a half years.“I have raised the issues of Punjab’s employees and pensioners time and again in the Vidhan Sabha and on various other public platforms. The govt cannot expect employees to remain silent when commitments made to them are not honoured,” Bajwa said.
