CHANDIGARH, May 22 — Sanitation workers across municipal councils, committees, nagar panchayats, and various urban local bodies in Punjab have agreed to withdraw their ongoing strike following successful deliberations with state authorities, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated Thursday.
The resolution followed a high-level meeting between state representatives and a five-member delegation representing the workers’ 35-member committee. The panel included Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains alongside senior administrative officials to evaluate the union’s primary grievances.
“Several demands were resolved during the discussions, while some issues linked to legal and election code related matters require further procedural consideration,” Cheema noted during a press briefing. He shared that a joint committee has been formed to find practical, long-term solutions for all unresolved matters.
The administration has committed to a strict one-month timeline to evaluate the remaining items on a sympathetic basis. Cheema asserted that the unions mutually agreed to grant the government the necessary time to address their structural concerns following two to three days of intense dialogue.
Turning to political matters, the Finance Minister strongly condemned recent remarks by Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, who labeled Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann an “ISI agent.” Cheema described the accusation as a severe insult to the state’s three crore residents and their democratic mandate, asserting that the statements reflect an adversarial stance toward the region.
Cheema questioned the selective silence of current opposition figures, asking why leaders failed to raise national security concerns during past administrations when questions regarding foreign nationals at the official chief ministerial residence were widely publicized. He stated that such baseless allegations are currently being deployed purely for partisan advantage.
Addressing questions regarding the emergence of new student and civic political groups, the minister maintained that the Indian Constitution guarantees all citizens the right to organize and express public opinions. He affirmed that mocking or suppressing the voices of youth and social organizations undermines foundational democratic values.
