LUDHIANA, Aug. 21 -- The Inspectorate Food Supply Association (IFSA), Ludhiana, has deferred its proposed indefinite strike after the Punjab government invited the association for talks on August 25 to discuss its long-pending demands related to conveyance payments and other allowances. The inspectors and field staff had announced to boycott work from August 20, but decided to postpone the agitation for the time being following the government's invitation.

The association said the decision was taken in the larger public interest as an indefinite strike could have affected the functioning of food supply department offices and inconvenienced beneficiaries visiting them for essential services. However, it warned that if the August 25 meetin...