A "struggle remembrance day" has been set for March 9, 2026, to mark a large convention and the further escalation of their agitation.

Punjab Govt Staff Declare 2026 ‘Year of Protest’ Over Pending DA Dues

Thousands of Punjab government employees and pensioners launched a symbolic protest on the occasion of Lohri due to intensified anger against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. They officially declared 2026 as the “Year of Protest” and “Non-Cooperation.”

The report suggests that clerical cadre and ministerial unions are protesting the non-payment of five pending dearness allowance (DA) instalments, amounting to 16% of their basic salary, which have accumulated since mid-2023.

Employees threw broken firewood into Lohri fires to symbolise their disillusionment during the protests held at the Punjab Civil Secretariat and various district offices across the state. 

Gurnam Singh Virk, state president of the Punjab State Ministerial Service Union, said that the government has failed to keep its promises despite repeated assurances. 

Union leaders highlighted alleged discrimination, claiming that while IAS and IPS officers receive regular DA hikes, over 3.5 lakh employees and 4 lakh pensioners continue to wait for their dues.

The unions have announced a statewide action plan, which includes submitting warning letters and memorandums of demands to all Punjab MLAs.

A "struggle remembrance day" has been set for March 9, 2026, to mark a large convention and the further escalation of their agitation. 

With the union vowing to stop seeking further meetings until their demands are met, the confrontation between the state workforce and the government is set to widen throughout the year.

Source: Indian Express