Chandigarh: In a pointed swipe at the AAP govt in Punjab, BJP state president Sunil Jakhar on Thursday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the 2% hike in dearness allowance for central govt employees and pensioners, and urged the state govt to follow suit by raising DA for its employees and clearing pending dues.In a message shared on social media, Jakhar expressed gratitude to PM Narendra Modi, stating that after the latest hike, central govt employees will now receive DA at the rate of 60%. In contrast, the Punjab govt is providing only 42% DA to its employees, with several instalments still pending.He added that even the High Court has stated that DA is the rightful entitlement of employees. Therefore, the govt should immediately increase the allowance and release pending dues, including approximately Rs 15,000 crore related to delayed DA payments and pay commission arrears.Jakhar emphasised that employees are a crucial part of any govt, as they are responsible for implementing policies and programmes at the grassroots level. If they receive their full salaries on time, they can perform their duties more effectively.He criticised the Punjab govt, alleging that due to poor financial management, it is failing to provide employees with their rightful dues. He pointed out that after the recent hike, the gap in DA between central and Punjab govt employees has widened to 18%. He also noted that neighbouring states like Haryana and Rajasthan are providing full DA to their employees.Jakhar concluded by stating that instead of spending public money on advertisements and political rallies, the Punjab govt should prioritise paying its employees their rightful dues without delay. MSID:: 130354501 413 |
