Chandigarh, Aug 25 — The Punjab unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday announced that it will extend its full support to the decision of government employees and pensioners in the state to observe a ‘Maha Strike’, including mass casual leave on August 27, in protest against the non-release of their pending dearness allowance (DA) by the government.
State party President Kewal Singh Dhillon said the employees and pensioners in the state have been compelled to take this step after repeated representations to the government and prolonged denial of their legitimate dues.
Kewal Singh Dhillon said the state government can no longer hide behind excuses or administrative reasoning, as the matter has already been decided by the judiciary.
The High Court, rejecting the arguments put forward by the state government, had directed the release of the pending DA of the staff.
He said the government subsequently challenged the decision before the Double Bench headed by the Chief Justice, but the earlier decision was upheld by the court.
“It is deeply unfortunate and painful that despite repeated judicial pronouncements, the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government continues to disregard the legitimate claims of its employees and pensioners. Such an attitude reflects the government’s insensitivity towards those who have served the state for decades,” Kewal Singh Dhillon said in a statement on Tuesday.
He further said that the government’s continued failure to comply with judicial directions has now resulted in contempt proceedings, which is a serious matter and should never have reached this stage.
The BJP Punjab President demanded that the AAP government immediately release all pending DA dues of the staff and honour the directions of the courts without any further delay.
He said employees and pensioners deserve financial security, dignity and justice, and the government must stop forcing them to repeatedly struggle for what is legally and rightfully theirs.