West Bengal government employees shout slogans during a strike demanding the release of their pending DA (Dearness Allowance) at Kolkata Municipal Corporation headquarters on March 10, 2023. Photo Credit: PTI
West Bengal government employees on hunger strike demanding DA (Dearness Allowance) parity with central government employees met Governor CV Anand Bose on March 12. out of whack”.
“The Governor is deeply saddened that the hunger strike of the aggrieved employees is entering the fourth week. The issues involved may be complex but there is always a simple way out,” said a post on the official Twitter account of the governor.
Protests organized by opposition parties in West Bengal and a strike called by a section of state government employees have caught the police and administration by surprise.
Opposition political parties, including the Left parties, the Congress and the BJP, supported the strike.
The protesting employees demonstrated outside West Bengal government offices such as Writers’ Building, Vikas Bhawan, Food Bhawan, Swasth Bhawan and Kolkata Municipal Corporation. Despite the government’s warnings, attendance in government offices has been low. The work in government offices was severely affected by the strike.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had told the assembly earlier this week that she would not be able to meet the demand for a hike in dearness allowance even if protesters beheaded her.
(With inputs from PTI)