Government employees stage protest for restoration of Old Pension Scheme

Tribune News Service

Karnal, July 31
Scores of government employees, under the banner of Pension Bahali Sangharsh Samiti (PBSS), took out an “aakrosh march” in the CM’s city on Wednesday, seeking the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for all government employees. Protesting employees of different departments started the march wearing black clothes from Karna Park to the Mini-Secretariat.
They threatened to gherao the CM’s residence in Chandigarh on September 1 and start ‘vote for the Old Pension Scheme’ again, like during the Lok Sabha elections, if their demands were not met.
Vijender Dhariwal, state president of the samiti, said they had been demanding the restoration of pension for nearly 2 lakh government employees and social security for their families since 2018.
“We will hold a protest rally in Panchkula on September 1 and go to the official residence of CM Nayab Singh Saini in Chandigarh,” he said.
Baljit Beniwal, member of the samiti, said only Congress-ruled states, like Himachal Pradesh, were restoring the OPS.
Dhariwal said the government was not serious about their demands and Saini did not listen to the representatives of the Ambala body on Monday.
“When all elected representatives take one or more pensions depending on their tenure, why should pension be denied to the employees who are in service for over 30 years?” he asked.
Pushpal Kamboj, district coordinator, said that if the government does not implement OPS, then they would oppose the BJP by launching voter for an old pension scheme. “If it accepts our demand, we will welcome the BJP in the upcoming assembly elections,” he added.
Ram Bilas Sharma, district Karnal vice president, said the Union government had stopped the OPS on January 1, 2004, and the state government stopped it on January 1, 2006. “We will continue to protest against the government till the fulfilment of our demands,” he said.
Meanwhile, the protesting employees paid tribute to Shaheed Udham Singh on his martyrdom day.

Pension for politicians, but not us
When all elected representatives take one or more pensions depending on their tenure, why should pension be denied to employees in service for over 30 years? — Vijender Dhariwal, State President, Pension Bahali Sangharsh Samiti