The police today detained Rajat Mahajan, president of the Old Pension Restoration Sangharsh Committee, Mukerian, ahead of the Chief Minister’s visit to Bhatla village near Garhdiwala.
According to committee members, the organisation had decided to show black flags to the Chief Minister on June 17 as a mark of protest over the long-pending demand for restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). In view of the proposed protest, the police reportedly picked up Mahajan from his residence and brought him to Mukerian police station, where he was kept for around four hours.
Leaders of the committee, including state coordinator Jasvir Talwara, Sanjeev Dhoot, Balwinder Tak, Satish Kumar, Brij Mohan, Rishabh Dev, Manjit Singh, Jaswant Singh, Paramjit, Ramakant, Khushwant Singh, Sukhjinder Singh, Surinder Singh, Rajesh Kumar, Naseeb Kumar, Arun Kumar and Gurpal Singh, criticised the action. They alleged that the government was trying to suppress the voice of employees instead of addressing their demands.
They said the restoration of the OPS remained the most important demand of government employees and urged the government to take immediate steps. They maintained that detaining leaders would not silence the movement for the OPS.
As news of Mahajan’s detention spread across the town, a number of employees and supporters started gathering outside the police station. Committee members claimed that due to pressure from colleagues and supporters, Mahajan was released later in the afternoon.
Following his release, leaders of the organisation reiterated their commitment to continue the struggle for restoration of the OPS and said the movement would continue until their demand was fulfilled.
