Chandigarh, April 10
Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa today demanded that the salaries of the Chief Minister, Leader of Opposition, Cabinet Ministers, MLAs as well as senior bureaucrats such as IAS and IPS officers be withheld until the long-pending Dearness Allowance (DA) dues of government employees are released.
Taking a firm stand, Bajwa said that when lakhs of employees have been waiting for nearly 30 months for their rightful dues, it is unacceptable for those in positions of power to continue drawing full salaries and benefits. “It is a matter of moral turpitude that Ministers, MLAs, and Class I officers receive full emoluments while junior employees and pensioners continue to suffer,” he asserted.
Targeting the AAP-led government under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Bajwa said that government employees played a decisive role in bringing the party to power, but have now been “completely betrayed.” He added that the delay in releasing DA has exposed the government’s insensitivity towards its own workforce.
Bajwa urged the state government to immediately comply with the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which has ordered the release of pending DA installments. He cautioned against any move to challenge the order, stating that such a step would only prolong the hardship of employees and reflect poorly on the government’s intent.
Highlighting the scale of the issue, Bajwa noted that nearly ₹14,500 crore in dues remain unpaid, placing immense financial strain on employees and pensioners. “These are not concessions but legitimate earnings of those who have served the state with dedication,” he said.
Bajwa also slammed the government for failing to implement the promised Old Pension Scheme (OPS) in practice, despite issuing a notification. “Employees were given assurances before elections, but what they have received instead is delay, deception, and neglect,” Bajwa remarked.
Bajwa said that forcing employees to struggle for their rightful dues would erode trust in governance and further damage the credibility of the political system. He called upon the government to act with urgency, fairness, and accountability to restore confidence among employees and ensure justice is delivered without further delay.
