Kolkata
The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, extended full support to state government employees agitating for equal dearness allowances (DA) with central government employees. Adhikari pledged to join any ‘march to the state secretariat’ organized by the Joint Forum of State Government Employees, emphasizing solidarity with their demands. Addressing the gathering, Adhikari cautioned the state government against taking punitive actions and asserted that the administration’s denial of legitimate dues to employees who resist corruption is unjust. The statement comes ahead of the Joint Forum’s planned marathon cease-work from January 29, with the threat of a fast-unto-death agitation if Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee doesn’t address their concerns personally. While the Chief Minister announced a four percent additional DA in December, the gap between the DA rates for West Bengal and central government employees remains at 36 percent. The Trinamool Congress argues that the state employees should direct their agitation towards the Union government, which, according to them, has withheld the state’s legitimate dues.
