West Bengal Leader of Opposition Shubhendu Adhikari. file | Photo credit: The Hindu
BJP’s Shubhendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, said on March 25 that the DA gap between central and state government employees is now 36% following a decision by the Union Cabinet.
The sit-in protest by a section of West Bengal government employees demanding DA hike entered the 58th day on March 25.
Mr Adhikari’s statement comes a day after the Union Cabinet increased the Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief from 4% to 42% to benefit 47.58 lakh central government employees and 69.76 lakh pensioners.
“This is the charisma of Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji. The Nandigram MLA tweeted, “The wage disparity between West Bengal government and central government employees is increasing.
Attaching a picture with the tweet, the BJP leader said the Center now pays 42% DA, while the state government gives 6%, of which three per cent was increased “through chits”. “Thus the difference is 36%,” he claimed.
When Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya was presenting the state budget last month, she was given a chit and announced three per cent DA. The opposition BJP had alleged that he violated the rules as it was not mentioned in the budget document. Mr Adhikari also attached an image of a table giving details of “DA paid by other states”.
A spokesperson of the agitating state employees’ steering committee said they would intensify their demand for bridging the DA gap between central and state government employees.
West Bengal Govt. Demonstration of employees demanding DA hike
Around 50 state employees are now protesting at the Shaheed Minar ground in Kolkata. A forum of 18 state government employees’ organizations also went on strike on March 10 demanding a hike in DA.
Ruling Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said the West Bengal government may increase the DA if the Center releases Rs 1.18 lakh crore due to the state.
“The Center is not releasing the due funds and it is hitting the state hard. The Center is doing this for political reasons. We are requesting the agitating employees to call off their agitation and understand the state’s position.”