Scrap CPS, demand employees

Vijayawada: Several employees staged protest demonstration here on Saturday demanding the government to scrap the contributory pension scheme (CPS). They took out a rally from the Railway station to the Gymkhana Ground raising slogans in support of their demands. They demanded the government to immediately withdraw the contributory pension scheme and to revive the old system.

On this occasion, they opposed the speech of AP NGO leader P Ashok Babu objecting him not to address the meeting. When he tried to address them, a section of employees raised slogans against him. They said that the NGO leader was working in favour of state government. They alleged that the employees were being divided under his leadership. Tension prevailed for some time when some other employees raised slogans in support of Ashok Babu.

Finally, senior leaders pacified both the groups. The teachers those attended from 13 districts unanimously demanded the government to cancel the CPS immediately. The employees were losing their life time benefits due to the scheme, they said. Employees leaders P B Reddy, Govardhan and others participated in the agitation.