Congress on Friday criticized the government's decision not to increase the dearness allowance of central employees and pensioners, calling on the Narendra Modi government to ban 'central vista', bullet train projects and wasteful expenditure instead of cutting soldiers and staff allowances.
Party's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also said that following the suggestion of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, the central government can save Rs 2.5 lakh crore by stopping its wasteful expenditure which can be used to help people in this time of crisis.
He told reporters via video link, "Instead of putting an ointment on the economic slowdown and income crisis created by the crisis of corona virus epidemic, the Modi government is busy sprinkling salt on the burn." Surjewala questioned, " In recently passed budget of Rs 30,42,000 crore showed Income and expenditure. Then within 30 days of presenting the budget, what is the Modi government proving by putting scissors on dearness allowance of army personnel, government employees and pensioners? "
He claimed that the 'unjustified cut' in dearness allowance would result in a reduction of Rs 37,530 crore annually from the salaries of about 1.13 lakh soldiers, staff and pensioners. Surjewala said, "The unfortunate thing is that this exercise of wounding the dearness allowance by the Modi government has not spared even our soldiers of the three armies protecting the country." With this deduction, Rs 11,000 crore will be deducted from 15 lakh soldiers of the army and about 26 lakh military pensioners. "
"Despite the corona virus epidemic, the government has not yet rejected the Central Vista project costing Rs 20,000 crore," he said. Nor did it stop the Rs 1,10,000-crore bullet train project. It also did not announce a cut in Fijool's government spending, which could save Rs 2,50,000 crore annually. "Surjewala urged the government to put a stop to these projects and stop 'Unnecessary expenses'. There is a proposal for the re-creation of several government assets of Parliament and Central Delhi under the Central Vista project.
