Engineers defer stir
Umesh Dewan/TNS

Patiala, November 21
Following a hint from the government functionaries that their pending demands were under consideration, the PSEB Engineers' Association has deferred its statewide protest that was slated for tomorrow. Union president HS Bedi and general secretary Bhupinder Singh confirmed the development.

Meanwhile, hundreds of non-gazetted employees of the Punjab Power Corporation today staged a state-level dharna outside the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited headquarters here. The protest call was given by the PSEB Joint Forum, which represents seven unions.

However, contrary to the forum's claims that several thousand employees would participate in the protest, the turnout was quite less at the Mall Road here where the PSPCL headquarters is situated. The employees have been protesting the non-acceptance of their demands. There was no major impact of the strike but on the flow of traffic.

Another reason that brought smiles on the faces of the power corporation high-ups was that there were no cuts. As elections are round the corner, every association and union is trying to pressurise the government so that their demands are accepted, which is “nothing less than holding the government to ransom”, a senior PSPCL official said.