Gujarat government employees hit the streets, but BJP unruffled

They number over seven lakh and, if united behind a cause, carry the strength to affect electoral politics in Gujarat, which goes to the polls later this year. 

But despite state government employees hitting the streets of Gandhinagar on Monday to get the administration to accept two of their demands, the ruling BJP seems composed.

Held at Satyagraha Chhavni, a place synonymous with various public demonstrations in the state Capital, the protest was organised by the National Old Pension Restoration United Front (NOPRUF) and the Gujarat State United Front, the two umbrella organisations of state government employees. 

The protest saw 72 associations of different cadres such as revenue officials, panchayat employees, health employees, employees of industrial training institutes, employees of regional transport offices, and teachers participate.

The demonstrators demanded the implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) instead of the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and called for the abolition of a fixed-wage policy for various cadres of the administration.

The demonstrators demanded the implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) instead of the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and called for the abolition of a fixed-wage policy for various cadres of the administration.