Yog Raj Sharma
The North News
Shimla, December 11
Pensioners in Himachal Pradesh have accused the state government of going back on its promises and warned of a major protest outside the state secretariat if their demands are not met by December 17. The warning came on a day the Congress government marked its third year in office with a public event in Mandi — a move that pensioners said contradicts the administration’s repeated claims of financial stress.
Eighteen pensioners’ organisations, working under the banner of the Himachal Pensioners Joint Struggle Committee, have said they are prepared for an “all-out agitation” after repeated appeals failed to produce any results. The group had held rallies during the winter session of the Assembly and again in Kangra, but leaders say they have yet to secure a formal meeting with the Chief Minister despite earlier assurances.
Committee president Suresh Thakur told reporters in Shimla that the government’s failure to constitute the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) — their main demand — had triggered widespread anger among pensioners. He accused the government of ignoring repeated requests and criticised a rival pensioners’ group, calling it unregistered, unauthorised and misleading retirees. Thakur said more than 200,000 pensioners were associated with the Joint Struggle Committee and urged the government not to underestimate their strength. He warned that the Chief Minister “should not test the patience” of retired employees.
He also questioned how the government could cite a financial crisis while organising what he described as a large public rally in Mandi under the Disaster Act provisions.
The committee has said the government must set up the JCC before 17 December. If not, it will escalate its agitation and stage a large protest outside the secretariat.
