Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Urges Roadways Employees to End Strike, Vows to Address Demands

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Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has appealed to protesting contractual employees of the state-owned roadways to return to work and engage in dialogue to resolve their grievances. This comes after a tense standoff on Friday, during which a worker attempted self-immolation and a police officer sustained burn injuries. Mann emphasized that the state government is committed to addressing the employees' concerns and has introduced plans to introduce 900 new buses. However, the workers have accused the government of ignoring their demands and pushing the transport sector towards 'systematic privatisation'. The strike, which began as a statewide protest against the opening of tenders for a kilometre-based bus scheme and the regularisation of contractual workers, has resulted in disrupted bus services across Punjab. The protesters have vowed to continue their strike until their demands are met and detained union leaders are released. Mann has warned those attempting to disrupt peace in the state, stating that the government has a zero-tolerance policy towards gangsters and will not allow them to harm the state's social fabric. The Chief Minister reiterated his government's commitment to maintaining peace, amity, and communal harmony in the state at all costs. As the standoff continues, Mann has urged the protesting employees to return to work and engage in constructive dialogue to resolve their grievances. Bus services remain disrupted in many areas of Punjab, causing inconvenience to passengers. Meanwhile, the state government is working to address the employees' concerns and restore normalcy to the transport sector.