Archive · 30 Aug 2026
Punjab Congress backs employees, warns Mann over pending dues
Punjab government employees are protesting because they say they have not received some promised payments.
They also want the Old Pension Scheme brought back.
Congress leader Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said the employees’ demands are fair.
He warned Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann not to punish the protesters.
Warring said government workers are important to how Punjab functions and can influence elections.
He also criticized the government for spending money on advertising and consultants.
He questioned whether the state can pay all the money owed to employees.
Warring asked Congress workers to stay united and praised Rahul Gandhi’s political efforts.
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring backed government employees protesting unpaid dearness allowance and seeking restoration of the Old Pension Scheme.
Warring warned Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann against punitive action or prolonged confrontation with employees, saying it could have political consequences.
He questioned the government’s spending priorities, citing alleged advertising expenditure of about ₹1,000 crore and employee-related dues of about ₹14,000 crore.
Warring alleged that Punjab’s debt had increased from about ₹2.85 lakh crore in 2022 to around ₹4.48 lakh crore, though the figures were not independently verified.
He called Rahul Gandhi the “new hope” for India and Punjab and urged Congress workers to continue opposing the Aam Aadmi Party government.
- Who
- Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Punjab government employees and Congress workers.
- What
- Warring backed employee protests over pending dearness allowance payments and restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, while criticizing the Mann government’s finances and policies.
- When
- Sunday; the article does not specify the date.
- Where
- Punjab, India.
- Why
- Warring said the employees’ demands were legitimate and argued that the Punjab government should meet its commitments and address their grievances.
- Main demands
- Payment of pending dearness allowance and restoration of the Old Pension Scheme.
- Congress position
- Punjab Congress said it would continue supporting protesting government employees.
- Employee-related dues cited
- Warring questioned how the government would provide about ₹14,000 crore in dues and benefits.
- Advertising expenditure alleged
- Warring alleged that the government had spent about ₹1,000 crore on advertisements.
- Consultant payment alleged
- Warring questioned an alleged ₹341 crore payment to consultants linked to raising a ₹25,000 crore loan.
- Debt figures cited
- Warring said Punjab’s debt rose from about ₹2.85 lakh crore in 2022 to around ₹4.48 lakh crore currently; the figures were not independently verified.
- Political warning
- Warring warned that punitive action against employees could carry political consequences for the government.