Protesting PWD workers overpower policemen, reach Haryana CM office in Karnal

Tribune News Service

Karnal, August 11

Hundreds of employees, under the banner of the Haryana Government PWD Mechanical Workers Union, held a state-level protest in the CM City on Sunday.

They held a protest march towards the CM Camp Office to gherao it. The police tried to stop them by installing barricades, but they overpowered them and reached the Camp Office. There, they were assured of a meeting with the Chief Minister on August 20, after which they dispersed.

Earlier, they assembled at Karna Park and employees’ leaders criticized the government for not fulfilling their demands. They started the march from the park and reached near the Camp Office, where they were stopped by the police. They had arguments with the police and managed to cross the barricades to reach Camp Office.

Satpal Verma, state president of the union, said they were demanding regularisation of jobs for contractual staff, job security, increase of the age limit for retirement to 60 years from 58 years, removal of the condition of 52 years for ex gratia benefits, redress of flaws in service rule, among others, but the government has failed to address them.

He, along with other speakers, referred to the announcement of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini of giving job security to contractual and HKRN employees up to 58 years as a political stunt, saying that the government was yet to issue any notification in this regard.

“Prior to the elections, the government had made this announcement, which was only a political stunt. The government should issue a notification in this regard,” he added.