Chandigarh, Sept. 4 -- The Punjab government on Thursday extended an olive branch to protesting 4.2 lakh state employees, urging them to abandon "confrontation approach" and "return to the negotiating table" and offering them salary plus dearness allowance on par with central government staff.

Sanjha Mulazam Manch, an umbrella body of employee unions, however, demanded the immediate withdrawal of disciplinary orders issued during their August 27 strike as a strict precondition for any dialogue. They also termed the government's salary parity offer as "diversionary tactics."

The standoff involves government employees and three lakh pensioners demanding the immediate release of an 18% pending DA and arrears.

Addressing a joint press conf...