The ongoing strike by the nursing staff at Sri Guru Nanak Dev Hospital continued for another day as protesters adopted a unique and symbolic method to press for their long-pending demands.
In an unusual protest demonstration, nurses symbolically burned an effigy of the Punjab Chief Minister and staged a mock “brain surgery” to criticize the government’s policies. The creative protest attracted significant public attention.
During the demonstration, the effigy was placed on a stretcher, recreating a hospital scenario. Nurses then performed a staged surgical procedure, claiming the effigy’s “brain” represented anti-employee policies. Protesters symbolically removed the “brain” and sarcastically announced that it had been “surgically corrected,” expressing hope that the government would now understand their concerns.
The nursing staff have been demanding a revision of their salary structure for a long time. According to the protesters, they should be granted a 4600 grade pay, but the government has allegedly delayed taking a concrete decision.
Employee leaders accused the government of invoking the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) instead of addressing their demands, claiming the move was aimed at suppressing the strike.
Despite legal pressure, the nurses stated they are not ready to withdraw their agitation. They emphasized that their struggle is not only about salary revisions but also about dignity, respect, and employee rights.
The protesters warned that if a positive decision is not taken soon, the movement will be intensified in the coming days.
