Chandigarh, August 5
Expressing serious concern over the ongoing strikes by employees across several government departments in Punjab, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Punjab President Kewal Singh Dhillon on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party government, alleging that the state was witnessing an “administrative emergency” due to its failure to fulfil commitments made to government employees.
Dhillon said that before coming to power, the AAP had made several promises to government employees, assuring them that their long-pending issues would be resolved. However, after assuming office, the government had allegedly failed to honour those commitments, leaving employees with no option but to resort to protests and strikes. He pointed out that employees from several key departments—including the Punjab Civil Secretariat, Adarsh Schools, outsourced workers of PSPCL and PSTCL (Powercom and Transco), Anganwadi workers, Community Health Officers serving at Ayushman Arogya Kendras, PRTC employees, and clerical staff in Deputy Commissioners’ offices—were protesting over their long-pending demands, severely affecting the functioning of the administration.
Questioning the government’s functioning, Dhillon asked how essential public services could continue uninterrupted when employees from so many critical departments were on strike. He alleged that the government’s failure to engage with employees and address their grievances had pushed the state’s administrative machinery towards paralysis.
“Today, the people of Punjab are bearing the brunt of the government’s failure. Citizens are being forced to run from one government office to another for even routine work. Healthcare, education, power-related services and several essential administrative functions have been severely disrupted. The AAP government is solely responsible for this situation because it has ignored the legitimate concerns of its employees,” Dhillon said.
Dhillon further alleged that both government employees and the people of Punjab would hold the AAP government accountable for what he described as a betrayal of public trust. Demanding immediate intervention, Dhillon urged the state government to initiate meaningful dialogue with employees, resolve their long-pending demands without delay, restore normal functioning of government offices, and provide relief to the people facing hardship due to the ongoing strikes.