As talks on OPS fail, Sanjha Front to protest outside Punjab Vidhan Sabha

“When asked when GPF accounts will be opened, the minister had no answer. Asked when NPS deduction will stop, he did not reply. They (AAP) had guaranteed the implementation of OPS in their poll manifesto. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had on October 22, 2022 announced that he would implement the OPS and a notification was issued on November 18, 2022. However, no progress has been made since then, except for forming a committee and visiting a few states, which have implemented OPS,” Talwara said.

Atinder Pal Singh Ghagga, Jarnail Singh Bhatti and Gurjant Singh were among other Sanjha Front members who attended the meeting.

The National Pension System (NPS) replaced the OPS on January 1, 2004.

On Sunday, a mega rally was held close to the residence of the CM in his native district of Sangrur, following which a meeting was scheduled. Nearly 2 lakh employees of the Punjab government under the NPS are seeking the implementation of the OPS.

“When Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema was not free to attend the meeting, despite OPS being his subject, we wonder why they called us for the meeting” Jarnail Singh Bhatti said.

As the Budget Session of the Punjab Assembly begins on March 1, several unions, including the Unemployed Sanjha Morcha, are likely to protest in Chandigarh on March 4.