Talking to ENS today, Badal said that there was enough evidence to establish that Tohra had connived with the Congress. Badal said that Tohra's party, the All India Shiromani Akali Dal, had no policy or programme for the welfare of the people of Punjab; it was launched with the objective of helping the Congress candidates in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

Badal said Tohra and his coterie had put hurdles in the tercentenary celebration of birth of the Khalsa Panth. They had launched anti-Panthic propaganda and had raised provocative slogans during the celebrations, he said.

Later, addressing a rally of the Punjab State Electricity Board Employees Federation, Badal announced that the post of lineman of Punjab State Electricity Board would be re-designated as assistant junior engineer after the incumbent achieved the pay scale of junior engineer by getting annual increments during his tenure.

The Chief Minister directed the Punjab State Electricity Board authorities to finalise and implement the recommendations of the wage formulation committee constituted to set right the anomalies of pay scales of different categories of PSEB employees by August 15 this year.

He said the DA instalment to the PSEB employees should be decided as per Punjab government norms, and power connections may be given to the employees on a priority basis. The issue of giving employment quota to the wards of PSEB employees would be considered sympathetically, taking into consideration the legal aspects, he said.

The Chief Minister appreciated the PSEB Employees Federation's gesture to contribute one day's salary towards the Punjab Heroes' Family Welfare Fund, and said the jawans had shown exemplary courage while ousting the intruders in Kargil and other sectors. The Punjab government had announced Rs 7 lakh as compensation money, a plot at reserve price and a suitable job to the eligible next of kin of these valiant jawans. He said the nation would never forget their brave deeds and sacrifices.

Finance Minister Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, said that Punjab employees were the highest paid in the country and the SAD-BJP government had always agreed to their demands without any agitation by the employees organisations. He said that the anomaly committee set up by the Punjab government would give its decision soon.

Rajya Sabha member Balwinder Singh Bhunder supported the demands of the PSEB employees.

Surinder Singh, president PSEB Employees Federation, presented a charter of demands to the Chief Minister. Baldev Singh Mann, administrative member, PSEB, and other members of the federation also spoke.