Govt robbing employees, pensioners of their DA during ongoing pandemic, inflation: Harsh

Agitated over the denial of DA installments to govt employees, retired civil and Army personnel since January, 2020 a strong contingent of panther activists along with aggrieved pensioners including retired army personnel led by Mr. Harsh Dev Singh Chairman-JKNPP and former Minister staged a vociferous protest demonstration in Jammu today. While raising slogans, the angry protesters accused the BJP govt of plundering the annuity payable to the duly entitled beneficiaries with no justification and accountability.

Flaying the government for its callous attitude towards the in services as well as retired employees who had given their entire life in the service of the society and nation, Mr. Singh regretted that even the defense veterans have been subjected to extortion and exploitation under Saffron rule. “Unexplained deduction of amount from the pension paid to the Ex-servicemen is deplorable, obnoxious and intolerable. Why the govt is burning holes in the pockets of brave hearts who are the symbols of national pride? It’s shameful that the govt has not even spared the Ex-servicemen from its nasty policy”, angry Harsh rued.

Lambasting the central govt for its double standard, Mr. Singh said that while the J&K State had been converted into a UT, the employees were still deprived of the central pay scales. And contrarily, the govt had invoked the centre’s notification of non-payment of DA to the in service employees as well as the retired employees causing huge resentment amongst the affected classes in the times of such raging inflation. He regretted that even defense Army personnel who made countless sacrifices for the nation were not spared with the govt refusing to give even the details of funds collected under PM Cares Fund. He further maintained that the despicable act of exploitation by the government of late whereby the pension of the veterans is being curtailed without any accountability and justification has only prompted widespread dismay, disappointment and outrage among the govt employees and pensioners in general besides all the sects of the civil society.

Expressing solidarity with the employees and pensioners, Mr. Singh exhorted the govt. to immediately do away with its policy and stop the unscrupulous practice of withholding the DA and consequent reduction in the pension of employees and Ex-servicemen. He said that Panthers Party shall continue to support the cause of the affected govt employees and defense veterans and make sure that the national heroes would not fall prey to the BJP’s policy of deceit, duplicity and subterfuge.

Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion included Rajesh Padgotra, Yashpaul Sharma, Gagan Pratap Singh, Surinder Chouhan, Khajoor Singh, Rashpaul Singh, Karan Singh, Hakim Din, Yashpaul Singh, Kuldeep Singh, Rakesh Kumar, Surat Singh, Manmohan Singh, Munsha Singh, Darshan Singh, Balkar Singh, Ajib Singh, Mela Singh, Tarsem Singh, Capt. Mair Chand, Dhyan Singh besides others.