BJP targets AAP government over employee protests, ‘unfulfilled’ promises in Punjab
The BJP has criticized the AAP government in Punjab for failing to fulfill 2022 election promises, including the regularisation of contractual employees and the implementation of the Old Pension Scheme. The opposition party condemned the state's handling of widespread protests, labeling the government's response as undemocratic.
Why it matters
The ongoing labor unrest and political friction in Punjab reflect broader challenges regarding fiscal policy and governance in Indian states governed by opposition parties.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday (August 31, 2026) accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab of suppressing government employees and failing to fulfil its 2022 election promises.
At a press conference, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said that about three lakh employees, including contractual workers, and 3.5 lakh pensioners were protesting across all 23 districts, demanding regularisation of jobs, release of pending Dearness Allowance (DA), and restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
Mr. Bhatia alleged that despite promising those measures, the AAP government had neither implemented regularisation nor released the pending DA, while no proper framework for OPS had been prepared. He criticised Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for allegedly refusing dialogue until the strike was withdrawn and cited a government order purportedly directing the authorities to identify protesters.
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