Akhilesh targets govt over 'unpaid' DA arrears to Central govt employees
Lucknow (PTI): Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday slammed the government's reported refusal to pay 18 months dearness allowance (DA) arrears to central government employees, and questioned its claim of being a "global economic superpower".
He also asked the government where is the money from the ever-increasing 'GST collection' going.
"Does the government's claim of becoming a 'global economic superpower' mean that employees do not get their dues? The central government's refusal to pay 18 months DA arrears to central employees is, in a way, a denial of 'government guarantee'," Yadav said in a post on 'X'.
The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also posted a newspaper clipping with the headline "Centre will not pay 18 months DA arrear to employees."
"The government should tell where is the money from the ever-increasing 'GST collection', the 'trillion dollar economy' going? There is money for ships worth billions and leaking buildings, but not for the employees who actually run the government. On one hand, rising inflation and on the other, not getting dearness allowance, is a double blow to employees with limited income," he said.
Maintaining that non-payment will also affect efficiency of employees, Yadav said efficiency of employees, who are worried about their domestic expenditure, will also be affected.
"The BJP does not pay proper salary to those who work," he added.
He said the BJP government is not even considerate to the elderly, whose medical care expenses are increasing but not pension.
"Now does the government want senior citizens to go on a hunger strike for pension? By stopping railway concessions, the BJP has insulted senior citizens," he added.
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CPI(M) rebel Kunhikrishnan hopes for 5,000-vote win in Payyanur
Kannur (Kerala) (PTI): CPI(M) rebel candidate V Kunhikrishnan, who contested as a UDF-backed Independent from Payyanur here, on Saturday said he was hoping to win the Assembly election by a margin of 5,000 votes.
Kunhikrishnan was expelled from the CPI(M) earlier this year after raising allegations of corruption in the party’s martyrs’ fund against sitting MLA T I Madhusoodanan.
Speaking to a TV channel, Kunhikrishnan said he had announced his candidature as a mark of protest and not with expectations of victory.
However, he said the situation had changed drastically, with a strong undercurrent within CPI(M) votes favouring him.
"The undercurrent in CPI(M) votes cannot be measured. Now people are giving a response indicating victory with a margin of at least 5,000 votes," he said.
Payyanur is considered a CPI(M) stronghold, and a defeat for Madhusoodanan there would be a major setback for the party.
On political violence in Payyanur, Kunhikrishnan said he had been facing it since filing his nomination.
"The people leading this violence should think about how long they can continue it. It is the police which has to take the initiative to stop this violence as part of maintaining law and order. But the police are not intervening at the required level," he said.
Regarding his political future, Kunhikrishnan said efforts were underway to strengthen Left groups, and discussions were being held across Kerala in that regard.
"After discussing with others, a decision will be taken," he said.
Kunhikrishnan is among six former CPI(M) leaders who either exited the party or were suspended before contesting for the UDF in the April 9 Assembly elections.
Elections to the 140-seat Kerala Assembly were held on April 9, and the counting of votes will be held on May 4.
