Youth Akali Dal President Sarabjeet Jhinjer today expressed support for the demands of the Outsourced Billing Meter Reader Union in Patiala. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee member Jathedar Jasmer Singh Lachhru was also present on the occasion.
Addressing the media, Jhinjer said that parents educate their children with the hope of seeing them in good jobs. However, the Punjab government has created entirely different circumstances. For the past 33 days, outsourced employees have been sitting on the roads demanding their rightful dues, yet no representative of the government has paid any attention to them.
Giving an example, Jhinjer said that contractors are receiving ₹20,000 to ₹25,000 per worker from the government, while employees are being paid only ₹5,000 to ₹7,000. This is a direct act of cheating against the workers. Jhinjer demanded that both the government and the contractors take this matter seriously.
He warned Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann that mere talk will not get things done; the government must address employees’ demands at the ground level. He said the government has committed a major betrayal of the youth.Targeting Aam Aadmi Party MLAs, Jhinjer said that AAP legislators are busy filling their coffers in their constituencies, and in the coming time, people will not allow any MLA of the “broom party” to enter villages. Betrayal of the people will not be tolerated.
Making a sharp remark, Jhinjer said that before forming the government in 2022, the Aam Aadmi Party kept raising its voice for employees’ rights and promised that their demands would be resolved immediately after coming to power. But even after four years, the reality is completely opposite.
Employees are still struggling without fair wages. He said this is not just deceit, but clear proof of playing with people’s rights and emotions. He emphasized that the government has reduced its promises to empty words. As a result, frustration and anger among employees are growing, and people’s trust in the government has eroded.
Sarabjeet Jhinjer said that the Shiromani Akali Dal is a 105-year-old party born out of struggle and stands for the rights of every section of society. He said, “We stand with the employees in their fight for their rights, and our leaders will always stand with you.”
He warned that if these employees’ demands are not accepted, or if they are not given proper contracts or regularised, the consequences will be very serious. He assured that when the Shiromani Akali Dal forms the government in 2027, all these issues will be resolved immediately. Jhinjer said, “What S. Sukhbir Singh Badal says, he delivers.”
The Akali Dal will continue its fight for employees’ rights and will raise their voice at every level.Jhinjer reiterated that before forming the government in 2022, the Aam Aadmi Party raised its voice over these employees’ demands, but even after four years, not a single demand of these employees has been fulfilled.