The association organised a convention in the city today, which was attended by thousands of panchayat workers from all over the state. The conference was held at the local grain market, near Jalandhar bypass.

Addressing the convention, Sukhdev Singh Bareke, state president of the Panchayat Association, said that the convention had been organised to show their resentment against the ‘anti people’ and ‘anti employees’ policies of the state government.

Bareke said that they were opposed to the move of the state government to change the procedure of election of the sarpanches, and to hold the panchayat elections before the scheduled time. He said that this amounted to be the murder of the democracy. Bareke added that their association would oppose the move.

The association presented their list of 15 demands, and threatened to intensify the agitation if the government does not accept them.