Chandigarh: The standoff between the Punjab government and employees over the payment of pending dearness allowance (DA) dues continued on Wednesday, with Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema claiming that state government employees receive the highest salaries in the country.
Addressing reporters in Chandigarh along with cabinet ministers Aman Arora and Dr Baljit Kaur, Cheema said Punjab government employees receive 28% higher salaries than their counterparts in Gujarat and 13% more than employees in Haryana.
He said around 51% of Punjab’s total revenue is spent on employees’ salaries and pensions, compared with the national average of about 38%.
Government says ₹14,100 crore DA dues are from previous regimes
Cheema claimed that of the ₹14,100 crore in pending DA dues, most relates to the previous SAD-BJP and Congress governments. He said the Aam Aadmi Party-led government was clearing the dues in instalments.
According to Cheema, the Punjab government has already paid more than ₹4,500 crore in accordance with the plan submitted before the High Court, while payments on the remaining amount are continuing.
He accused the Shiromani Akali Dal, BJP and Congress of misleading employees and the public by making what he described as false claims.
AAP Punjab president and cabinet minister Aman Arora said the Congress government had announced DA payments ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections but failed to make the promised payments.
Arora said the AAP government could also have made similar announcements but chose not to make promises it could not fulfil. He appealed to employees to hold talks with the government instead of going on strike, saying the state was willing to discuss their demands on all issues.
