Punjab Congress Announces September 8 Chandigarh Protest Over DA, OPS; Patiala Press Meet Today

September 7, 2026

Chandigarh: The Punjab Congress has announced a massive protest in Chandigarh on September 8, demanding the release of pending Dearness Allowance (DA) instalments and arrears and implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for government employees.

The announcement came during a press conference at Punjab Congress Bhawan addressed by senior Congress leader Hardip Singh Kingra and Punjab Congress SC Department Chairman Gurpreet Singh Lucky Pakho.

Congress workers, employees, pensioners and supporters will gather at Punjab Congress Bhawan, Sector 15, Chandigarh, at 10:30 AM on September 8 before marching towards the Deputy Commissioner’s Office and the Chief Minister’s Office.

Patiala Congress Leaders to Hold Press Conference Today

Meanwhile, Congress leaders in Patiala will hold a separate press conference today at 12:30 PM to raise issues related to Dearness Allowance and the Old Pension Scheme.

Those expected to attend include Patiala MP Dr. Dharamvira Gandhi, former ADGP and Chairman of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee’s Servicemen Cell Gurinder Singh Dhillon, former Punjab Youth Congress president Mohit Mohindra, Rural Congress president Gursharan Kaur Randhawa, and Punjab Pradesh Mahila Congress Social Media Chairperson Yamini Verma.

The Patiala press conference is expected to focus on concerns of government employees and pensioners and the party’s position on DA and OPS.

Congress Demands DA Arrears, Full OPS Implementation

Kingra said the September 8 agitation would primarily focus on the demands of Punjab’s government employees and pensioners.

The Congress is demanding the immediate and unconditional payment of pending DA instalments and arrears, full implementation of the Old Pension Scheme, and withdrawal of what it described as repressive show-cause notices issued to union leaders.

Kingra called upon Congress workers, employee unions, youth and the general public to join the protest and said the party would continue to raise its voice on issues affecting government employees and pensioners.

Kingra Raises Allegations of Police Brutality

During the Chandigarh press conference, Kingra also raised several other issues, including alleged attacks on journalists and police brutality.

He condemned the alleged assault and humiliation of women journalists in custody and referred to an incident involving TV9 journalists Shaheen Khan and Nafeesa Khan in Delhi. Kingra alleged that the journalists were targeted because they are Muslim and termed the incident an attack on press freedom and democratic institutions.

In Punjab, he referred to an alleged incident involving a Sikh youth, Mohanjeet Singh, at village Sheron in Sunam during a public event of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Kingra alleged that the youth was detained after raising questions about governance and subjected to physical torture in custody, including electric shocks and injuries. He demanded an immediate and impartial CBI inquiry, suspension of officials found responsible and registration of criminal cases.

These allegations were made by the Congress leader and have not been independently established.

Congress Targets Punjab Government Over Corruption Allegations

Kingra also accused the Punjab government of failing to check corruption and raised allegations concerning the state’s excise and liquor policy.

He alleged that more than Rs 300 crore was generated as illicit profit through an illegal distillery network, causing losses to the state exchequer.

He further alleged the existence of a “cash-for-transfer” network involving transfers of IAS, IPS, PCS and DSP officers and claimed that confidential Cabinet files were being leaked. Kingra cited what he described as digital evidence presented by central agencies in the High Court against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s OSD Rajbir Singh Ghuman.

The Congress leader also raised allegations of bribery involving Regional Transport Authorities and Automated Driving Test Centres, claiming that citizens were being harassed and that licences were being issued or renewed through alleged payment of bribes.

Congress Seeks Probe Into Other Allegations

Kingra also referred to National Human Rights Commission intervention and judicial remarks while alleging that a Rs 5 crore transaction linked to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s wife, Dr Gurpreet Kaur Mann, had come to light in connection with an alleged attempt to suppress a sensitive rape investigation.

He demanded a time-bound judicial and CBI inquiry into the matter.

The allegations raised during the press conference formed part of Congress’s broader attack on the Punjab government. However, the party said its immediate focus for the September 8 protest would remain the demands of government employees and pensioners over DA and OPS.

The Patiala press conference at 12:30 PM today is expected to further highlight the party’s position on these issues ahead of the Chandigarh protest.