Pathankot: Extending support to Punjab govt employees and pensioners planning a two-day mass leave on Oct 21 and 22, BJP’s Pathankot MLA Ashwani Kumar Sharma on Monday accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) govt of pursuing “anti-employee” and “anti-worker” policies and failing to honour its commitments.Employees and pensioners have announced the protest to push for the fulfilment of their long-pending demands, alleging that the Bhagwant Mann govt has failed to address their grievances despite repeated assurances.Sharma said govt repeatedly failed to honour its promises, forcing employees to take to the streets to seek benefits and rights that had remained pending for years.“Employees, pensioners and workers form the backbone of the state’s administrative machinery and public services. Instead of addressing their grievances through meaningful dialogue, the AAP govt is forcing them to take to the streets to demand their legitimate rights,” he said.Backing the proposed mass leave, Sharma said the BJP stood firmly with employees, pensioners and workers, whose demands deserved serious consideration rather than empty assurances. A govt that came to power promising change must be held accountable for its commitments, he added.The key demands include the release of pending dearness allowance (DA) instalments and arrears, restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), and regularisation of contractual and outsourced employees. The employees have also been seeking resolution of issues concerning allowances, pay scales and pension benefits.*Sharma said employees should not have to repeatedly resort to protests to secure benefits that had been pending for years. He called for redressal of employees’ and pensioners’ concerns with sensitivity, transparency and accountability.“The AAP govt must stop misleading employees with announcements and assurances and take concrete steps to resolve their issues,” the BJP legislator said.Sharma’s statement comes ahead of the proposed two-day agitation, which is expected to put pressure on the state govt to respond to the employees’ demands. The mass leave is intended to highlight the delay in resolving service-related issues and press govt to move beyond assurances toward concrete action.
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