On Wednesday, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav condemned the government’s reported refusal to pay 18 months’ worth of dearness allowance (DA) arrears to central government employees. He questioned the government’s self-proclaimed status as a “global economic superpower,” suggesting that such claims ring hollow when employees are denied their rightful dues. Yadav expressed his concerns in a post on ‘X,’ criticizing the government’s actions as a betrayal of its own promises.
Concerns Over GST Collections
Yadav also questioned the allocation of funds from the ever-increasing Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections. He challenged the government to account for where this revenue is being spent, pointing out that while there appears to be money for costly ships and deteriorating buildings, there is a lack of funds for the employees who are essential to the functioning of the government. According to Yadav, the combination of rising inflation and the denial of DA arrears constitutes a severe financial burden on employees with limited incomes.
Impact on Employee Efficiency
The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister argued that the non-payment of DA arrears would likely impact the efficiency of government employees. He suggested that the stress of financial insecurity could affect their performance and overall well-being.
Criticism of BJP’s Treatment of Seniors
Yadav further criticized the BJP government for its treatment of senior citizens, highlighting the lack of increase in pensions despite rising medical expenses. He questioned whether the government expects elderly citizens to resort to hunger strikes to receive their pensions and condemned the cessation of railway concessions as an affront to senior citizens.
