SANGRUR, Oct. 11 -- Government employees, pensioners, and honorarium workers, including mid-day meal, ASHA, and anganwadi staff, staged a protest in Sangrur, blocking traffic on the Patiala-Bathinda National Highway for an hour.

Under the joint banner of the Punjab Mulazim and Pensioners Sanjha Front and Mulazim Manch Punjab, protesters took out a rally in Sangrur, accusing the state government of failing to fulfil its promises.

The protesters rejected an invitation from the civil administration to meet the chief secretary, with coordination committees insisting they will only negotiate directly with the chief minister. To intensify their protest against the state government, they announced a two-day collective leave on October 21-22, f...