ETT TET teachers protest govt apathy

Teachers, under the banner of the ETT TET Teachers’ Association (6505), Jai Singh Wala, organised a protest rally at Gandhi Municipal Park here on Sunday. The rally was held to protest the alleged indifferent attitude of the Punjab Government. The protesters marched to the residence of Harmeet Singh Sandhu, AAP candidate for the upcoming Tarn Taran by-election, scheduled for November 11.

State president Kamal Thakur, general secretary Sohan Singh Barnala and finance secretary Gurmukh Singh Patiala were among the leaders who addressed the gathering. They condemned the termination of five-year contractual services of 180 teachers between 2016 and 2021, describing it as unjust and arbitrary.

The leaders alleged that the state government, especially Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, had repeatedly assured resolution of their issues but failed to take action. They criticised the administration for delaying the resolution of broader public issues as well — including the promised monthly stipend of Rs 1,000 for women, minimum support price (MSP) guarantees for farmers, and unemployment allowances for jobless youth.

Highlighting their demands, the teachers led a peaceful march through the city, culminating at Harmeet Singh Sandhu’s residence. There, they accused Finance Minister Cheema of evading responsibility and ignoring their long-pending demands.

The protesting teachers appealed to Tarn Taran residents to hold the AAP government accountable in the upcoming by-election. They also urged all sections of society to unite and raise their voices against what they described as the state government’s continued apathy toward public grievances. — OC