Hundreds of banners and posters used to oppose Punjab Government
Chandigarh, ( )May 6, 2026:Agitated over the anti-employee policies of the Punjab
Government, employees today staged a protest at the busy and prominent Matka Chowk in
Chandigarh under the banner of the Sanjha Mulajam Munch Punjab and U.T. The protesters
carried banners and posters expressing their dissent against the government.
Hundreds of banners and posters used to oppose Punjab Government Employees
The demonstrationv was triggered by widespread anger among employees over the government’s decision to file areview petition before a double bench against the High Court’s verdict regarding Dearness Allowance (DA). The protest was held between 5 pm and 6 pm, after office hours—a time when
the junction witnesses heavy traffic congestion. The timing was significant as judges of the High
Court, lawyers, IAS officers, and other senior officials frequently pass through this route during
that period. Under the flag of the Sanjha Mulajam Munch, protesters raised slogans against the
government and displayed banners, posters, and placards highlighting their demands. In a silent
yet impactful manner, they attempted to convey their message to both the general public and the
authorities.
Matka Chowk echoes with vehicle horns during demonstration
Addressing the media, employee leader Sukhchain Singh Khehra said that this might
be the first government in history that has begun taking away benefits from employees—the
backbone of governance—instead of granting them. He emphasized that Dearness Allowance is
an integral part of an employee’s salary, and by denying it, the government has taken an
adversarial stance against its own workforce by approaching the High Court. He further alleged
that the government appears to be reneging on its promise to restore the old pension scheme.
At the same time, he pointed out that the basic pay for MLA pensions has been increased from
₹15,000 to ₹60,000. Participants including Manjit Singh Randhawa, Sushil Kumar Fauji, Sahil
Sharma, Harnek Singh, and Amit Katoch also addressed the media, reiterating their demands.
They urged the government to withdraw the letter dated July 17, 2020, imposed on newly
recruited employees and implement Punjab pay scales,Immediately constitute the 7th Pay
Commission, Regularize contractual employees,Fix pensions for pensioners with a multiplication
factor of 2.59.
The employee leaders warned the government that if their demands are not met,
they would respond strongly in the 2027 Assembly elections, drawing a comparison with the
political situation faced by Mamata Banerjee’s party in West Bengal. They also highlighted that
there are approximately 800,000 employees under the Punjab Government, and including their
family members, this number rises to nearly 5 million. Ignoring such a large voter base, they
warned, could cost the government dearly in the upcoming elections. Employees from the
Secretariat as well as various directorates located in Chandigarh and Mohali, including Balraj
Singh Daun, Sukhwinder Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, Harcharan Singh, Manpreet Singh, and
Ravinder Singh, Rajiv Kumar kalra participated in the protest.
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