Chaos at the Border: Police Unleash Water Cannons and Tear Gas on Protesting Punjab Employees and Teachers
Mohali/Chandigarh (March 8, 2026) — Tensions reached a boiling point at the Mohali-Chandigarh border today as Punjab police launched a severe crackdown on protesting government employees and teachers. Security forces deployed baton charges (lathi-charge), water cannons, and tear gas to halt demonstrators who were marching toward the Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) on the day of the state budget.
A Fight for the Old Pension Scheme, DA ,And Regularisation of Computer teachers
The massive protest was organized by the Trade Unions, Old Pension Restoration Struggle Committee, the CPF Employees Union, and several other state trade unions. For a long time, these employees have been actively campaigning for the Dearness allowance, restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) alongside other key demands.
As the protesters attempted to cross the border to make their voices heard at the assembly, they were intercepted by the police. Despite facing a harsh barrage of tear gas and water cannons, the employees held their ground, loudly raising slogans against the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.
Broken Promises and Political Backlash
Union leaders leading the march expressed deep frustration, accusing the AAP government of betraying the working class. They highlighted that before coming to power—and notably again before the Gujarat elections—Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had explicitly promised to restore the OPS. Protesters claim these announcements have proven to be "complete lies," as no concrete steps have been taken to fulfill the promise.
According to the union leaders, under the current National Pension System (NPS), billions of rupees from employees and the government treasury are being poured into the stock market to benefit massive corporations. Meanwhile, retiring government employees are forced to survive on meager pensions of as little as 5,000 rupees.
The protesting unions have issued a stern warning to the Punjab government. Declaring that the administration's falsehoods have been exposed, they cautioned that the ruling party will inevitably face the severe anger of the state's workforce in the upcoming elections if the Old Pension Scheme is not immediately restored and GPF accounts are not reopened.
