Former Punjab Minister Pargat Singh Condemns Police Action Against Teachers
Former Punjab education minister and MLA Pargat Singh has strongly condemned the use of water cannons and lathicharge by police against teachers who were staging a peaceful protest in Chandigarh. Singh expressed deep disappointment over the incident, highlighting the irony that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who frequently identifies himself as the son of a schoolteacher from Satoj, authorized such forceful measures against educators and farmers.
Allegations of Government Hypocrisy and Inaction
Pargat Singh alleged that the Chief Minister leverages his humble background to connect with the public, yet his administration is now resorting to aggressive tactics to suppress legitimate demonstrations. He criticized the state government's response as a clear reflection of its failure to address the genuine concerns raised by the protesters. According to Singh, this approach undermines the democratic right to peaceful assembly and highlights a disconnect between the government's rhetoric and actions.
Unfulfilled Promises to Teachers
The former minister pointed out that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had appointed 12,710 teachers on a permanent basis on July 28, 2023, and distributed appointment letters to them. However, he claimed that nearly two years have passed, and these teachers have not been granted the permanent employee pay scale or essential benefits such as travel allowance, medical reimbursement, and group insurance. This delay has fueled frustration among the teaching community, leading to organized protests.
Details of the Protest and Police Response
In an effort to press for their demands, the teachers initiated a march from Mohali to Chandigarh. They were, however, stopped at multiple points by law enforcement agencies. During the confrontation, water cannons were deployed against the protesters, and a lathicharge ensued. Pargat Singh further alleged that during the police action, the turbans of some Sikh teachers were dislodged, an act he described as disrespectful and culturally insensitive.
According to his account, five individuals sustained injuries in the lathicharge, including three women teachers. He emphasized that such violence against educators, who are pivotal to the state's educational framework, is unacceptable and warrants immediate accountability.
Broader Criticism of Government Policies
Pargat Singh also criticized the government for its failure to regularize contractual employees, a longstanding issue affecting various sectors in Punjab. Additionally, he slammed the administration over a recent lathicharge on farmers in Bathinda, drawing parallels between the two incidents. He recalled that during the farmers' protests against the central farm laws, the AAP had expressed solidarity with them. Now, however, the same party is using force against farmers who are raising demands before the Punjab government, highlighting a perceived shift in stance.
Singh's statements underscore growing tensions between the government and public sector employees, with calls for more transparent and humane handling of protests. The incident has sparked discussions on the need for dialogue and resolution rather than confrontation.
