Mamata announces 6% dearness allowance hike for state govt employees

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday announced an additional dearness allowance instalment of six per cent for state government employees.

Banerjee made a statement to this effect in the state assembly.

Protesting against it, the opposition Communist Party of India-Marxist-Leninist (CPI-ML) walked out of the house, and refused to accept Banerjee's contention that the hike was being given to counter the rise in the price of essential commodities.

Banerjee said the employees would get the increase from January, 2014.

CPI-ML member Surya Kanta Mishra accused Banerjee of not following rules of the state assembly, and added that members of the house hada right to debate on the proposal before it was passed into law.

Banerjee, however, countered that she should not be guided by the leader of the opposition.

Speaker Biman Banerjee said that under assembly rules, the chief minister can make a statement in the House on any important matter and no question should be asked while the statement was being made.