Opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh have asked the BJP government in the state to reconsider the decision of putting on hold increment in dearness allowance (DA) for its 16 lakh employees due to continued lockdown following the coronavirus outbreak.
Toeing the Centre's line, the Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday decided to freeze DA hike for its employees. The increase in the inflation-linked allowance was due from January 1, 2020.
The state government has also decided not to pay the DA instalments which will be due from July 1, 2020, and January 1, 2021.
In a statement issued here on Sunday, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu said, "The decision taken by the Uttar Pradesh government to put on hold dearness allowance (DA) increase for its employees is impractical. The state government should reconsider its decision."
The Samajwadi Party leader said, "The UP government should reconsider its decision, which is impractical. This decision will lower the morale of the government employees, who are rendering their services in the fight against COVID-19."