Amid the ongoing electioneering in Punjab’s four by-poll-bound constituencies, a section of resentful government employees has launched a parallel door-to-door campaign against the state government demanding the reinstatement of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), as promised by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

A section of employees, under the banner of Purani Pension Bahali Sangarsh Committee (PPBSC), representing more than 50 government departments are intensifying their efforts to hold the AAP-led Punjab Government accountable for its promise to restore OPS.

The committee members, on Monday, began their poster campaign in the Chabbewal constituency. The campaign is designed to pressure the Bhagwant Mann-led Government, which had promised the implementation of OPS during its election campaign but has yet to act on the commitment even two years after coming to power.

During their campaigning, they highlighted that the employees across the nation had already rejected the New Pension Scheme (NPS), and are now preparing for a countrywide strategy to demand the restoration of the OPS. “We are going door to door in these constituencies, asking voters to question AAP candidates and their representatives about why OPS hasn’t been reinstated yet,” said one of the Committee members.

As a part of their campaign, the employees have been instructed to hold the candidates accountable on the issue. Notably, there are over 3,000 employees in each of these constituencies affected by the NPS. In fact, the AAP Government, in November 2022, had given written promise.

That was not all! The government employees have also lashed out at the Central Government for not restoring the OPS, especially in light of the financial relief given to corporate entities.

The bypolls, scheduled for November 20 in Gidderbaha, Barnala, Chabbewal, and Dera Baba Nanak, have turned into a battleground not only for political parties but also for state government employees, who are hoping to use their collective power to push for a long-awaited pension reform. The election results will be announced on November 23.

Cornered By Farmer’s Queries, ‘Nonplussed’ Manpreet Flees

Gidderbaha: The election campaign in Gidderbaha assembly constituency took a dramatic turn on Monday when Punjab’s former Finance Minister and BJP candidate for the byelection, Manpreet Singh Badal, found himself at the center of a heated protest by farmers. The incident unfolded when Manpreet, while canvassing for votes in a local village, was confronted by a farmer leader Bittu Mallan of the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) — forcing the five-time MLA to flee from the spot without addressing his queries.

Canvassing for November 20 bypoll, Manpreet initially engaged in the conversation and began to highlight the pro-farmer measures he had taken during his tenure as Gidderbaha MLA, but the situation quickly turned tense when farmer leader Bittu Mallan raised more pressing issues, including the death of a young farmer Shubhkaran Singh during the recent farm protests at Shambhu-Khanauri border, and the ongoing problem of unlisted paddy in grain markets.

Caught off guard, Manpreet, rather than addressing these concerns, abruptly ended the conversation mid-response and swiftly retreated to his SUV, driving away from the scene without offering answers to the pressing concerns raised by the farmers. This sudden departure left many wondering why the BJP candidate chose to avoid addressing the issues that have been at the heart of farmer protests in the region.

Farmers have been increasingly vocal in their opposition to BJP leaders in recent weeks, staging protests against the government’s handling of agricultural policies. Just days ago, they attempted to block Manpreet’s wife, Vinu Badal, during a public event and staged a protest outside his office in Gidderbaha. The tensions have escalated with farmers intensifying their protests, including a recent demonstration near the venue of BJP’s state in-charge and Gujarat’s former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was also in Gidderbaha for a party meeting.

The farmers, who have been at the forefront of the agitation against the BJP’s policies, continue to demand answers from their elected representatives, especially concerning issues such as the implementation of promises made during the 2020-2021 farm laws protest and the ongoing struggles at grain markets.

BJP Demands Immediate Action Against Warring for Code Violation

Chandigarh: Punjab BJP on Monday called for immediate action against the state Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring for violating the Model Code of Conduct during the ongoing election campaign. BJP spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Punjab Chief Electoral Office to take swift measures against Warring for exploiting religious institutions for political purposes — a clear breach of the Religious Institutions (Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1988.

Baliawal pointed, “Warring, in a recent Facebook post, revealed that he addressed a congregation at a mosque in Gidderbaha, urging attendees to pledge support for his party's candidate in the upcoming elections. The act of using religious spaces for political campaigning directly contradicts the law, which prohibits such misuse of religious institutions for political gain. The violation is punishable with imprisonment of up to five years and fines.”

Punjab BJP has expressed concern over Warring’s efforts to polarize the Muslim community for electoral gain, emphasizing that such actions undermine Punjab’s secular fabric and the integrity of the electoral process. The party has demanded that Warring be barred from further campaigning to ensure a fair and impartial election.

The BJP also urged the Election Commission to direct District and Returning Officers to enforce the law strictly and ensure that political parties adhere to the provisions outlined in the Model Code of Conduct.

Anurag Thakur Blasts AAP Govt for Farmers' Struggles in Punjab

Barnala: Former Union Minister and Lok Sabha Chief Whip Anurag Thakur on Monday lashed out at the AAP-led Punjab Government accusing it of failing the state’s farmers and its people. Thakur, addressing a press conference alongside BJP candidate for Barnala assembly bypoll, Kewal Singh Dhillon, raised serious concerns about the deteriorating situation in Punjab under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's leadership.

Thakur highlighted the tragic case of Jaswinder Singh, a farmer from Nadampur village in Bhawanigarh, CM Mann’s own constituency, who took his life after being unable to sell his paddy at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). “This is the reality of Punjab under the AAP Government. Farmers are being forced into such despair that they feel there is no way out,” Thakur said, while attributing the situation to the government’s delay in issuing procurement notifications and failing to address rice millers' concerns, leading to chaos in the paddy procurement process.

The BJP leader further criticized the Punjab Government for discontinuing the free ration scheme and refusing to implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme — both of which provide crucial support to the poor. “While the Modi-led BJP Government is giving free grains and medical treatment under Ayushman Bharat, the Punjab Government is taking these benefits away from its own people,” Thakur remarked. He pointed out that even CM Mann, who seeks private healthcare for himself, has denied his own citizens access to life-saving schemes.

Thakur reaffirmed BJP’s commitment to Punjab’s development, promising a multi-specialty hospital in Barnala if elected to power. “People shouldn’t have to travel far for quality healthcare. We’ll ensure this hospital is built,” he asserted, adding that it was due to Kewal Singh’s efforts that Barnala received a special train rake to ease procurement challenges.