Thousands of members of the Punjab Roadways, Punbus and PRTC Contract Workers Union staged gate rallies at Patiala and 26 other locations across the state on Friday, demanding the release of their colleagues lodged in jail for the past six months and pressing for the fulfilment of other pending demands.
The protests led by union state president Resham Singh Gill said the Transport Minister had earlier scheduled a meeting with union leaders for May 15, but it has now been postponed to May 18.
Gill warned that if the talks fail to yield a positive outcome, the union would launch an immediate state-wide strike.
Addressing workers during the rallies, union leaders alleged that several employees from Patiala and Sangrur, arrested following the November 28, 2025, agitation, continue to remain behind bars under attempt-to-murder charges for allegedly attacking police personnel.
The union claimed that despite an agreement with the government regarding the release of the workers, many employees were yet to be freed.
The state spokesperson and senior vice-president, Harkesh Vicky, said in Patiala that the government’s “breach of promise” would not be tolerated any longer. He accused the government of ignoring the demands of transport employees and attempting to privatise public transport services by promoting buses under the kilometre scheme.
The union leaders further alleged that nearly 500 government buses had been scrapped over the past four years, while insufficient efforts had been made to add new buses to the state-owned fleet.
