Cong joins unemployed linemen’s chorus as protest enters Day 15

Tuesday, 19/01/2016

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PATIALA: The Congress on Monday came in support of unemployed linemen, who have been agitating outside the headquarters of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) since January 4 for issuance of appointment letters to 4,000 unemployed linemen.

Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal (left) and Nabha MLA Sadhu Singh Dharamsot (right) with the protesters outside the PSPCL headquarters in Patiala on Monday.

President of Unemployed Linemen Union, Pirmal Singh’s indefinite hunger strike entered 12th day on Monday and his condition is said to be weakening.

Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Congress MLA from Nabha, joined the protest and observed one-day hunger strike in support of the unemployed linemen on Monday.

Former chief minister of Punjab and Congress leader, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, also met the protesters in the evening and criticised the state government for not meeting the demands of unemployed linemen.

Dharamsot said the prolonged protest showed the half-hearted attitude of the state government towards public issues. Unemployed linemen were protesting for the last five years but the government failed to address their demands, he said.

“I will stand with the protesting linemen and will raise the issue of their long-pending demands in the Vidhan Sabha. Congress will work towards delivering justice to unemployed linemen,” Dharamsot added.

Last week, Patiala MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi had also supported the demands of the protesting linemen.

Union members said that on Saturday, Patiala sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Gurpal Singh Chahal and superintendent of police (SP-city) Daljit Singh Rana had met the union members and assured them that a meeting with representatives of the state government will be arranged by the administration in the coming days but the officials did not fix any specific date for the meeting.

The protesters alleged that they had held several meetings with government officials in the past several years to discuss their genuine demands but it had proved to be futile and no positive response had been received from the government till date.

“We don’t want any more useless meetings or fake promises from the state government. Our protest will continue till the government issues appointment letters to unemployed linemen,” union leader Soma Singh said.

He further said Pirmal’s health was deteriorating with every passing day and the state government will be held responsible for the occurrence of any untoward incident.

Union members said the SAD-BJP government had advertised for recruitment of 5,000 linemen in PSPCL in 2011 but only 1,000 were appointed.

Meanwhile, union members said they will hold a rally in the city on January 20 to intensify their protest against the state government.