Akhilesh Yadav bats for 18 months' DA arrears to Central Government employees

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav has sharply criticised the government for reportedly refusing to pay 18 months' dearness allowance (DA) arrears to Central Government employees. He questioned the government's claim of being a "global economic superpower" while neglecting its employees' dues.

In a post on 'X' (formerly Twitter), Yadav challenged the government to explain the allocation of funds from the increasing Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections.

सरकार के ‘वैश्विक आर्थिक महाशक्ति’ बनने के दावे का मतलब क्या ये है कि कर्मचारियों को उनके अधिकार का पैसा भी नहीं मिले। केंद्र सरकार द्वारा केंद्रीय कर्मचारियों को 18 महीने के डीए का एरियर देने से मना करना, एक तरह से ‘सरकारी गांरटी’ से इंकार करना है।

सरकार बताए लगातार बढ़ते… pic.twitter.com/A9T6Lysoh6

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) August 7, 2024

"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.

The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister shared a newspaper clipping with the headline "Centre will not pay 18 months DA arrear to employees," highlighting the issue.

"The government should tell where the money from the ever-increasing 'GST collection', the 'trillion-dollar economy', is 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," Yadav added.

He stressed that non-payment would impact the efficiency of employees. "The BJP does not pay proper salary to those who work," he asserted. Yadav also criticised the BJP government for neglecting the elderly, whose medical expenses are increasing without corresponding pension adjustments.

"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.