BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari on Centre’s DA hike: ‘Charisma of PM Modi’

• Suvendu Adhikari attached the image of a table giving details of “DA paid by other states”
• TMC spokesperson said the West Bengal govt can increase the DA if the Centre releases the Rs 1.18 lakh crore which is due to the state
• A sit-in demonstration by a section of West Bengal govt employees demanding a hike in DA entered the 58th day on Saturday

Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, claimed on Saturday that a resolution by the Union Cabinet has reduced the DA disparity between employees of the federal government and the state government to 36%.

As the Union Cabinet enhanced the dearness allowance and dearness relief by 4% to 42% to help 47.58 lakh central government employees and 69.76 lakh pensioners, Adhikari made his speech the next day. “This is the charisma of Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji. Disparity in pay between WB Govt & Central Govt employees widens,” the Nandigram MLA tweeted.

The BJP leader tweeted an image with the statement, The Central currently pays 42% DA, while the State Government gives 6%, of which 3% was "hiked through chit." Consequently, he asserted, the difference is 36%.

Last month, while the state budget was being presented, Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya received a chit and declared a 3% DA. She was accused of breaking rules by the BJP opposition because it wasn't stated in the budget text.

The Steering Committee of the striking state employees announced that they will further up their demand to close the DA gap between central and state government employees in a statement. This comes as a part of the West Bengal government employees' sit-in protest demanding an increase in DA entered its 58th day on Saturday.

There are currently about 50 state employees protesting at the Sahid Minar maidan. On March 10, a forum of 18 organizations representing state government employees went on strike in support of an increase in DA. The West Bengal administration can boost the DA if the Center releases the Rs 1.18 lakh crore that is owed to the state, according to Trinamool Congress spokeswoman Kunal Ghosh.

“The Centre is not releasing the funds which are due and it is hitting the state hard. The Centre is doing this for political reasons. We are requesting the agitating employees to withdraw their agitation and understand the situation faced by the state,” he added.