Schoolteachers to resume protest

Tribune News Service

Patiala, April 21

Punjab schoolteachers under the Adhyapak Sangharsh Committee have decided to restart their protest against the government ahead of the parliamentary elections.

The teachers will restart their agitation from May 5, whereby they will hold a state-level flag march against Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Sunil Jakhar in Gurdaspur and Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh in Patiala. Besides, they will also burn effigies to protest the “Padho Punjab Padhao Punjab” seminars in the state.

The teachers have a grudge against the Congress government in the state for a 60 per cent cut in their monthly salary.

Davinder Punia, leader of the Adhyapak Sangharsh Committee, said, “The government had promised to form a committee headed by Health Minister Brahm Mohindra, but nothing has been done in this regard. The government has backtracked from its promise.”

After a series of protests against the government, teachers had to accept the offer of monthly salary of Rs 15,300.

Hardeep Toderpur, a government school teacher in Patiala district, said, “We will be going all out to inform the people of Punjab about the indifferent behaviour of the government towards the teachers. The current government has been very disrespectful towards the noble profession of teaching and therefore they (Congress) are doomed to pay a price for their misdeeds.”

Vikram Dev, a teacher said, “The government will pay a price for ignoring us.”