By Amrit Pal Sidhu
Bathinda: 01 November
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Bathinda District President and former MLA Sarup Chand Singla has welcomed the Central Government’s decision to increase the Dearness Allowance (DA) of central government employees by 3 per cent. He said that the decision, taken under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reflects the Centre’s commitment to the welfare of its employees.
Singla announced that if the BJP forms the government in Punjab, state government employees will also be granted 63 per cent DA, on the pattern of central government employees. He further assured that all pending DA arrears due to employees would also be paid.
Targeting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, Singla alleged that state government employees have not yet been granted even 60 per cent DA. He claimed that the Punjab and Haryana High Court imposed a penalty of Rs 1 lakh on the state government on October 27 for failing to comply with its directions regarding the grant of DA at par with central government employees.
Singla said that nearly eight lakh government employees in Punjab are struggling for their demands and legitimate rights. He alleged that their demands are being ignored, forcing them to take to the streets to seek what is rightfully due to them.
He said government employees are the backbone of the state's governance and administrative machinery. Singla reiterated that if the BJP comes to power in Punjab, steps would be taken not only to ensure DA at the central government's rate but also to clear all outstanding arrears payable to employees.