Undeterred by the strict stance adopted by the Punjab Government, the joint teachers’ union continued their protest for the third day at Patiala — the home constituency of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.
The State Education Minister on late Monday evening issued suspension orders of five protesting teachers.
Protesting against the Congress-led Punjab Government’s “offer” for regularising teachers’ job with a massive salary cut, no less than 150 teachers, from joint teachers’ union of Rashtriya Madhayamik Siksha Abhiyaan (RMSA) and Sarva Sikhsha Abhiyaan (SSA), have started protest dharna since Sunday evening at Patiala, while 11 others are sitting on fast-unto-death.
Taking string note of the prevailing situation, the Chief Minister has sought a detailed report of the ongoing agitation from the Education Minister OP Soni.
It has been learnt that the Chief Minister has expressed concern over the manner in which the teachers have been protesting, and the way the Education Department is dealing with the situation including the suspension of five teachers, out of which three hails from Patiala.
On the other hand, Education Minister Soni is firm on his stand and wanted the teachers to join their duties. “No work, no pay,” he made it clear to the protesting teachers, while at the same time, blaming the union leaders of “instigating the teachers”.
“Teachers have the right to protest and can do so on non-working days...I have no objection. But if they will lodge protest during working days, action will be taken. They cannot play with students’ future,” said Soni.
The Minister maintained that only a small section of teachers is opposing the government’s decision regarding their regularisation. “It is only the union leaders who are opposing the decision and instigating others, while most of the teachers are fine with the decision,” said Soni.