Haryana Govt Employees Demand Old Pension Scheme, Stage Protest Outside CM's Residence. WATCH

The Pension Bachao Sangharsh Samiti (PBBS) organised the protest march, and protestors assembled in Panchkula

Various government employees demonstrated at the house of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. ( Image Source :Twitter/@ANI )

Hundreds of former and present government employees demonstrated near Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's house near Panchkula, calling for the restoration of the state's Old Pension Scheme (OPS), news agency ANI reported.

The Pension Bachao Sangharsh Samiti (PBBS) organised the protest march, and protestors assembled in Panchkula. As a consequence, police used tear gas shells to disperse protesting Haryana government employees.

#WATCH | Police resort to firing tear gas shells to disperse protesting Haryana govt employees demanding restoration of Old Pension Scheme at Panchkula pic.twitter.com/rY8J15AFka

— ANI (@ANI) February 19, 2023

Speaking about the protest, PBBS spokesperson Praveen Deshwal stated: "Around 70,000 employees have gathered today to protest. In Rajasthan, the Old Pension Scheme has been implemented. This BJP govt doesn't talk to the employees. We will continue our peaceful protest."

Haryana, Panchkula | Around 70,000 employees have gathered today to protest. In Rajasthan, the Old Pension Scheme has been implemented. This BJP govt doesn't talk to the employees. We will continue our peaceful protest: Praveen Deshwal, spox, Pension Bahali Sangharsh Samiti pic.twitter.com/LHJVWVvRyY

— ANI (@ANI) February 19, 2023

The protest gathering comes just days after senior Congress politician and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda threatened to repeal the Old Pension Plan if the party is re-elected to power in Haryana.

Meanwhile, CM Khattar has warned that if the OPS is repealed, the country will be insolvent by 2030.

Previously, the governments of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand notified the national government and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) of their intention to relaunch the OPS for their personnel. On November 18, 2022, the government of Punjab published a notification on the implementation of the OPS for state government workers who are currently covered under the NPS.

(With Inputs From ANI)