Chandigarh: Former Punjab education minister and MLA Pargat Singh has condemned the lathicharge and use of water cannons against teachers, who were protesting over their demands in Chandigarh. He alleged that chief minister Bhagwant Mann, who often referred to himself as the son of a schoolteacher from Satoj, resorted to force against farmers and educators holding peaceful marches and demonstrations.Pargat said the CM invoked his background to connect with people, but was now ordering action against protesting teachers. He alleged that the state govt’s response reflected its inability to address concerns raised by the protesters.
The former minister stated that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) govt had appointed 12,710 teachers on permanent basis on July 28, 2023, and issued them appointment letters. However, he claimed that nearly two years had passed and these teachers were not granted permanent employee pay scale or benefits such as travel allowance, medical reimbursement and group insurance. He added that the teachers began a march from Mohali to Chandigarh to press for these demands, but were stopped at multiple points and water cannons were used against them. The former minister further alleged that during the police action, turbans of some Sikh teachers were dislodged. According to him, five persons were injured in the lathicharge, including three women teachers. He said that Pargat Singh criticised the govt for failing to regularise contractual employees. He also slammed the administration over the lathicharge on farmers in Bathinda. He said during the farmers’ protests against farm laws, the AAP had expressed solidarity with them, but was now using force when farmers were raising demands before the Punjab govt.
