Ludhiana, April 22 -- The Old Pension, Allowances and Scales Restoration Front has announced an intensified phase of protest against the Punjab government, accusing it of ignoring pending demands including restoration of the old pension scheme (OPS) for employees recruited after January 1, 2004. A convention held on Tuesday saw participation from several employee leaders, who reviewed past assurances and charted out a road map for future agitation.

The convention strongly criticised the statement of finance minister Harpal Cheema, who recently remarked in the assembly that, "There is no urgency in restoring the old pension scheme." Union leaders termed the remark as a clear deviation from earlier commitments and accused the government of...