Police Detain Old Pension Scheme Leaders Before Planned Protest Against Punjab Government

Leaders of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) Restoration Struggle Committee were detained by the police ahead of a planned black flag protest during Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s visit to Bhatla village in Hoshiarpur district. Employee unions have strongly condemned the action, alleging that it amounts to government high-handedness. According to the committee, police took State Convener Jasvir Talwara, District President Sanjeev Dhut, Rajat Mahajan and Prince Palyal Garhdiwala into custody from their respective residences and kept them confined at a police station before the scheduled protest. The Old Pension Scheme Restoration Struggle Committee and CPF Union Punjab had announced a black flag demonstration during the Chief Minister’s visit to press their demand for the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme for nearly two lakh state government employees. The organisations alleged that the police action was carried out in response to the proposed protest. The unions further stated that on June 15, local MLA Jasvir Singh Raja and the police administration had assured the leaders that a meeting with the Chief Minister would be arranged. However, despite that assurance, the police reportedly began detaining the leaders a day before the Chief Minister’s visit. Reacting to the development, CPF Employees Union President Sukhjit Singh, Old Pension Restoration Front leader Gurjant Singh Kokri, Secretary Jarnail Singh Patti and several other employee representatives criticised the action. They said peaceful protest is a constitutional right of every citizen and alleged that the police acted on the instructions of the Punjab government by placing the leaders under detention. The organisations described the move as an attack on democratic rights. The employee leaders also urged the Punjab government to complete the pending notification related to the Old Pension Scheme issued on November 18, 2022. They further demanded that the government honour its pre-election commitment to restore the Old Pension Scheme for government employees.