Chandigarh, Aug. 28 -- The Punjab State Secretariat in Chandigarh witnessed a complete shutdown on Thursday as government employees staged a mass leave to protest against the state government, demanding the payment of long-overdue Dearness Allowance (DA).

The protest has sparked a political standoff, with the opposition Congress slamming Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's "autocratic" approach, while the CM maintained that dialogue will only resume once the strike is called off.

Kulwant Singh, President of the Punjab Civil Secretariat (FCR office), stated that the employees are firm in their resolve. "All staffers are on mass leave today. A meeting with the CM is scheduled for today, and a team from Jalandhar has gone for the meeting. Punja...