Journalists threaten agitation against govt

Office-bearers and activists of the Punjab and Chandigarh Journalist Union threatened to launch agitation against the Punjab Government in case their ‘long-pending genuine demands’ were not accepted and implemented without further delay. The ultimatum was given during the concluding session of a protest march held under the leadership of general secretary Santokh Singh Gill from the native house of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha to his statue situated outside the venue where Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was scheduled to arrive later.The protesters wore black badges and carried placards exhibiting their major demands including free bus travel like in Haryana, implementation of the Sarbat Bima Yojna and pension for journalists and desk staff. Activists led by Gill alleged that the state government led by the Aam Aadmi Party dispensation under Bhagwant Mann had been ignoring the scribes’ demands for the last three years.“We will be compelled to resort to an organised agitation against the government in case our genuine demands are not met without further delay,” Gill said.

The journalists paid floral tributes to Sarabha and his associates.