Struggle will continue until demands are met: Johnny Singla
SANGRUR: The struggle of computer teachers of Punjab has reached a decisive turning point. After 114 days of hunger strike, Johnny Singla, a member of the Computer Teachers Hunger Strike Sangharsh Committee Punjab, has started a fast to death in Sangrur in the presence of thousands of computer teachers.
On this occasion, committee leaders Paramveer Singh Pammi, Pradeep Kumar Maluka, Rajwant Kaur, Ranjit Singh, Lakhwinder Singh, Gurbaksh Lal, Jaspal, Udham Singh Dogra, Bavleen Bedi, Sumit Goyal, Dr. Rajni, Dharminder Singh, Narinder Kumar, Rakesh Saini, Sushil Angural, Priyanka Bisht, Manjit Kaur, Karamjit Puri, Gagandeep Singh, Jaswinder Singh (Ludhiana), Nardeep Sharma (Sangrur), Naib Singh Bukkanwal, Navjot Singh and Harpreet Sahnewal reiterated that their struggle will continue until all the rights of computer teachers are restored.
The entire team of the Computer Teachers Hunger Strike Sangharsh Committee will be present at the fast unto death site for 24 hours. This movement is also getting support from other teachers, employees and farmers' organizations. Leaders of various organizations reached the spot and expressed solidarity.
Question on government’s apathy
Computer teachers said that despite holding four dozen meetings with Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, no concrete action was taken on their demands. Three years ago, the Education Minister had promised to resolve their problems on the occasion of Diwali, which has not been fulfilled till date. The agitating teachers said that they spent many nights outside the Chief Minister’s residence, but the government’s apathy forced them to take this drastic step.
Struggle is being waged over these demands
The computer teachers clarified that they have no new demands. They want all the benefits mentioned in their regular orders to be restored, they should be given the benefits of the Sixth Pay Commission and they should be merged into the Education Department unconditionally. The teachers warned that if the government does not accept their demands on time, the Punjab government will be fully responsible for any further struggle against the government.
The struggle is getting overwhelming support
A large number of teachers, farmers and members of other organizations united on the first day of the fast. The committee said that in the coming days, the support of teachers and other organizations from across Punjab will increase. Today, at the start of the fast, DTF State Vice President Raghveer Singh Bhawanigarh, District President Sukhwinder Gir, Aman Vishisht District Leader Kamaljit Singh Banbhaura, Sukhbir Khanauri, District President of Government Teachers Union Devi Dayal, Bagga Singh, Krishan Singh Duggan of SC BC Teachers Union, Bikar Singh of Zamin Prativi Sangharsh Committee and leaders of Kirti Kisan Union were present in the fraternal organizations.