Punjab Employees’ Strike Turns Chaotic in Jalandhar as CM Bhagwant Mann Cancels Scheduled Talks

A planned meeting between Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and protesting government employees in Jalandhar on Thursday descended into a tense standoff after the Chief Minister called off the scheduled talks amid the employees’ statewide ‘Maha Hartal’.

Government employees from several departments had taken mass casual leave and gathered at the Deputy Commissioner’s office complex in Jalandhar. The protest centred on long-pending Dearness Allowance (DA) instalments and the unions’ demand for restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).

A 16-member delegation representing the protesting unions had been selected to meet Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The meeting was expected to take place at PAP Chowk, while thousands of other employees remained at the DC office complex awaiting the outcome.

CM Mann’s Statement Triggers Fresh Tension

The talks were expected to begin around 1 pm. However, shortly before the scheduled meeting, Mann posted a message stating that employees could not continue a strike while simultaneously holding negotiations.

The statement effectively placed a condition on the proposed dialogue, with the government seeking an end to the ‘hartal’ before talks could proceed.

Union leaders objected to the development, arguing that the condition was introduced at the last moment after employees had already gathered for the scheduled meeting. The situation quickly became more tense as protesters interpreted the move as a cancellation of the planned dialogue.

Employees Announce BMC Chowk Blockade

Government Teachers’ Employees Union president Navpreet Singh announced that employees would block BMC Chowk indefinitely until the Chief Minister agreed to hear their representatives.

Following the announcement, employees inside the DC office complex began raising slogans against the state government and attempted to move onto the streets.

Police Barricade DC Office

Police personnel moved to prevent the protesters from leaving the complex, sealing the main gates and deploying police buses and anti-riot vehicles around the premises.

Additional anti-riot personnel were brought in as the number of protesters increased. Despite the security arrangements, several employees climbed over the boundary walls and attempted to leave through alternative exits.

Their movement was stopped roughly 50 metres from the DC office, where police again intercepted the protesters.

Amid the escalating situation, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was reportedly moved from PAP Chowk to his residence in Old Baradari, preventing a direct confrontation between the Chief Minister and the protesting employees.

Talks Deferred Until Next Week

The road standoff continued for around half an hour as union leaders attempted to coordinate the protesters’ next move.

Phones belonging to several union leaders, including Joint Action Committee convener Gurnam Singh Virk, were reportedly confiscated while they were directing employees during the protest.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Manpreet Dhillon said the Chief Minister had informed employees that the talks had been deferred until the following week.

However, representatives of the protesting employees remained at the PAP complex while waiting for further communication. The unions had also declined to hold discussions with Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema or the Finance Secretary.

The confrontation highlights the growing dispute between Punjab government employees and the state government over pending DA payments and the demand to restore the Old Pension Scheme. Further talks next week could determine whether the standoff eases or the employee unions intensify their agitation.