As per reports, as of Monday (24 August), the following are the latest updates regarding the Punjab bandh scheduled on Thursday (27 August):
• Punjab government employees are preparing to observe a statewide ‘Maha Bandh’ (shutdown) and mass leave on Thursday (27 August) over pending dearness allowance (DA) and pay commission arrears, restoration of the old pension scheme, regularization of contractual staff, and other demands.
• The preparations have intensified following the end of the deadline set by the Punjab and Haryana High Court for the state government to clear pending DA dues.
• Punjab Sanjha Mulazam Manch leader Sukhchain Singh Khehra said government employees, including teachers, ministerial and technical staff, Class 4 employees, medical staff and transport employees, are expected to participate in the protest. The employees are seeking release of pending 18 percent DA and pay commission arrears, among other demands.
