Chandigarh: Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday announced that sanitation workers across various Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), municipal councils, municipal committees, and nagar panchayats in Punjab have decided to withdraw their ongoing strike following discussions with the state government. It was agreed to form a committee to address the pending demands of sanitation workers within a period of one month.
Meeting with Workers' Representatives
After a meeting with representatives of sanitation workers' unions, Cheema informed the media: "A five-member delegation from the workers' 35-member committee held detailed discussions with cabinet minister Harjot Singh Bains, government officials, and me regarding the workers' demands." He further stated that several demands were resolved during the discussions, while some issues related to legal and election code matters require further procedural consideration. The government and union representatives mutually agreed to form a committee that would examine all pending demands and work towards a permanent and practical solution.
One-Month Timeline for Resolution
The minister said, "The government has fixed a one-month timeline to sympathetically consider and resolve the remaining issues. After detailed discussions over the last two to three days, all unions agreed to give the government time to address their concerns in a serious and structured manner."
Response to Controversial Remarks
Responding to media queries regarding Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu calling chief minister Bhagwant Mann an "ISI agent," Cheema strongly condemned the statement and termed it an insult to the people of Punjab and their mandate. He said, "This is not just an insult to the chief minister but to all 3 crore Punjabis. The BJP has consistently displayed an anti-Punjab mindset." He questioned why BJP leaders remained silent during the previous Congress government, when allegations were repeatedly made against then chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh.
Right to Form Political Parties
Replying to another media query regarding the 'Cockroach Janta Party,' Cheema said, "Democracy and the Constitution of India give every citizen the right to form a political party and express their views freely. If young people, students, or social groups are raising issues concerning society, they should not be targeted or mocked. Every individual has the constitutional right to express opinions and participate in democratic politics. Suppressing voices and labelling people unfairly is against democratic values." Cheema further stated that under the BJP government, attempts were being made to silence dissenting voices and restrict democratic expression in the country.
