Teachers to protest in city today

Tribune News Service
Patiala, February 9

Turning down the request of the district administration to hold protest at Mehmedpur Grain Market, a designated place, the protesting teachers decided to continue their agitation in the city on Sunday.

The teachers said, “Come what may, we, under the Adhyapak Sangarsh Committee, will hold protest in the city only. 

Meanwhile, police officials visited five union leaders late on Friday. During the visit, the police officials reminded the teachers that Section 144 of the CrPC had been imposed in the city and asked them to cancel the said rally. 

Confirming the development, Hardeep Toderpur, co-convener, Sanjha Adhyapak Morcha, said, “Police officials have asked not to hold the protest on Sunday. They said Section 144 has been imposed and action will be taken if we go against the rules.” 

However, Toderpur said they would hold the protest in the city and a large number of teachers would participate in the rally.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kumar Amit, said “We have already asked the teachers to protest at Mehmedpur Grain Market. In fact, last time, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had denied the teachers to hold protest in the city. If they (teachers) defy the court orders, the district administration is bound to take action against them.”

Kumar Amit added if someone wanted to protest in the district; they had to take prior permission from the district administration. 

Cancel protest: SSP

• Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mandeep Singh Sidhu, in the wake of Basant Panchami on Sunday, made an appeal to the teachers to postpone the protest. Sidhu said a large number of devotees were expected to visit Gurdwara Dukhniwaran Sahib on Sunday. Therefore, teachers should not protest in the city. 
• He warned that no one would be allowed to cause inconvenience to the city dwellers and disrupt the traffic movement in the city.

Education Secy shown black flags

Education Secretary Krishan Kumar was shown black flags at the annual function of Government Primary School, Old High Court, Nabha. A dozen contractual teachers raised slogans against Krishan. The teachers were protesting against the 60 per cent cut in the salaries by the Education Department. Harwinder Singh, a protester, said, “The government has not fulfilled any of our demands until now. Though they have received the funds, they are yet to pay our salaries.”