Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday took a firm position against the ongoing strike by government employees and pensioners across the state, making it clear that talks with employee organisations would take place only after the strike is called off. Mann conveyed his position through a post on his X account. He said government employees are an important part of the government’s “family” and that the government is ready to listen to all their legitimate concerns. However, he stressed that dialogue and a strike cannot continue simultaneously. The Chief Minister said the government remains committed to finding solutions to the issues raised by employees, but negotiations would begin only once the strike is withdrawn. Government Offices Remain Shut, Protest Rallies Held Meanwhile, government employees and pensioners responded to the call given by their joint platform and front by keeping government offices closed across Punjab and holding protest rallies. Employees and pensioners raised slogans against the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab during demonstrations at various government offices. At the Punjab Civil Secretariat, the entire staff of ministers also participated in the protest rally. Employees took collective leave to participate in the demonstrations. In Chandigarh, employees from different directorates held a protest rally under the bridge in Sector 17. The PSIEC Staff Association also organised a protest at Udyog Bhawan in Sector 17. Employees Warn of Stronger Agitation Addressing protesters at the Civil Secretariat, employee leaders warned that if no concrete solution emerged from the scheduled meeting with the Chief Minister and the coordination committee on Thursday, the employees’ agitation would be intensified further. The leaders also said that the Aam Aadmi Party government would have to pay a political price if the dispute was not resolved. Meanwhile, employee leaders Sukhchain Singh Khaira, Sushil Kumar Fauji and Sahil Sharma left the Punjab Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh and reached Jalandhar to attend the meeting with employee organisations convened by the Chief Minister’s Office. The meeting is being closely watched amid the continuing standoff between the Punjab government and employee and pensioner organisations.