'Not Necessary At This Stage': Manmohan Singh Slams Govt Over Dearness Allowance Freeze

The former Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh has criticized the decision of the central government to freeze the hike of dearness allowance (DA) of government employees and pensioners.

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New Delhi: The former Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh has criticised the decision of the central government to freeze the hike of dearness allowance (DA) of government employees and pensioners. According to a report by IANS Singh said that the ‘cuts were unnecessary at this stage’ considering the situation. On March 14, the Central government had approved a 4 percent hike in DA for Central government employees and pensioners. This addition meant that the DA was hiked from 17 percent to 21 percent.

As #COVID spreads, Modi Govt hurts 1.1cr Central Govt employees instead of providing relief. Withdrawing DA instead of cutting wasteful expenditure like Central Vista project is insensitive & inhumane. Former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh, Shri @RahulGandhi & others express deep concern. pic.twitter.com/M6WQ0tojxG

— Congress (@INCIndia) April 25, 2020

But on April 23, the government announced that the hike was suspended, for now, considering the coronavirus pandemic. The ministry of finance had also clarified that the additional installment of DA and DR falling due from July 1, 2020, and January 1, 2021, will also not be paid. However, the allowance will continue to be paid at current rates. The report said that a video message was released by Congress which had Manmohan Singh, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, and several other top leaders who slammed the government for the cutback. The report said that Singh said in the video message, "We should be on the side of people whose DA is being cut. I sincerely believe that it is not necessary that it is the stage to enforce hardship to government servants and armed forces personnel." Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had also condemned the government over the decision and in a tweet had written "Lakhs and crores are being spent on the Bullet Train and New Delhi's Central Vista which should have been suspended, but the government has deducted DA of Central government employees and pensioners... It is insensitive and inhuman.”