Punjab govt clears salaries of employees after 6-day delay, AAP faces BJP ire
Chandigarh/IBNS: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab Wednesday cleared the pending salaries of its employees six days after its due date following the staunch criticism from the Opposition, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), media reports said.
The AAP government, which banks on various social welfare schemes, has reportedly released Rs. 2,719-crore from the treasury to pay the due salaries and pensions.
Various news reports had earlier claimed the state government was unable to pay the last month's salary owing to the lack of funds.
Hitting out at the ruling party led by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya tweeted," AAP’s revdi politics hits Punjab. Exchequer dries up, Govt staff wait six days for salary…"
AAP’s revdi politics hits Punjab. Exchequer dries up, Govt staff wait six days for salary… https://t.co/LErUDSjOAD
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 7, 2022
Rejecting the reports of lack of funds, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the salaries were delayed as the state was gearing up for revival of a special drawing facility as per the Consolidated Sinking Fund/Guarantee Redemption Fund guidelines by the Reserve Bank of India, a The Times of India report said.
The AAP stormed into power for the first time in Punjab in 2022, ousting the Congress, capitalising on massive promises of free electricity and other benefits.
Indirectly slamming Kejriwal's mode of politics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said the "Revdi culture" or "freebie culture" to attract votes is detrimental to the development.
"People, particularly youth, must be careful of this Revdi culture," the Prime Minister had said.
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