Chandigarh, Aug. 26 -- With employees' unions announcing a statewide strike by staff of Punjab government departments, boards and corporations on August 27 over pending dearness allowance (DA), chief minister Bhagwant Mann will meet representatives of the unions on the same day. Sukhchain Singh Khaira, president of the Statewide Employees' Union, said they would seek clarity on their demands during the meeting with the CM. "If there is no clarity on the demands, we will announce our further programme and escalate the protest," Khaira said. The proposed 'maha bandh' comes after the Punjab and Haryana high court, acting on a set of petitions, directed the Punjab government on August 3 to clear the pending DA dues of employees and pensioners within 15 days. The deadline ended on August 18. Since then, various employees' unions have stepped up their protests and announced the statewide agitation for August 27. Pensioners will also participate by holding protests outside the offices of deputy commissioners in all 23 districts. According to the employees' union, around Rs.15,000 crore is pending in DA dues payable to employees and pensioners. At least 2,500 inspectors and assistant food and civil supplies officers in the Punjab food and civil supplies department called off their strike on Tuesday following a meeting with minister Lal Chand Kataruchak. The inspectors had been demanding an immediate end to salary deductions over weight loss of foodgrains and other reasons. The minister has reportedly accepted the demand and assured the employees that there would be no salary cuts for frivolous reasons....