New Delhi, January 8: The political tussle between the BJP and Congress in the northeast now seems to be taking over the 7th Pay Commission report. In Meghalaya, where most of the government staff is facing huge problems with their salaries, it seems that the pay hike issue in the state has now become a political issue.
Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, a chairperson of North East Democratic Alliance, slammed the Meghalaya government for depriving the state’s staff of their salaries.
The BJP leader lashed out at Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and accused him and his government of being responsible for the underpayment of salaries to the employes people in the state.
The BJP leader said that the states where the BJP is in power, employees are getting salaries.
“In the 19 states where the BJP government is in power, employees are getting their salaries according to the 7th Pay Commission,” said Biswa Sarma.
He, however, said that in Meghalaya, government officials are being deprived of their rightful salaries. “You can also see how much of corruption is there in the government through education scam,” he further added.
The Assam Minister also lashed out at the Mukul Sangma government for the underdevelopment in the state.
While addressing a rally at Tikrikilla in West Garo Hills district in Meghalaya, Sarma accused Sangma of being more of a contractor than a leader.
The BJP leader said, “Mukul has been at the helm for a long time however, there are no roads in Tikrikilla. There are also no medical or engineering colleges though there were foundation stones. The only thing that has happened is the development of Mukul Sangma who is not a leader but a contractor.”
He said that the BJP’s agenda for development was all-encompassing though the same dd not seem to be the case in Meghalaya.
According to the Sarma, the people seem to be waiting for the Congress government to go out so that the BJP can come in its place.
In October 2017, the Union Cabinet cleared revised pay scales for nearly eight lakh teachers and academic staff of higher educational institutions following the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission.
The decision also aimed to benefit 7.58 lakh teachers and equivalent academic staff working 106 universities and colleges which are funded by the University Grant Commission and the Union HRD Ministry and also 329 universities which are funded by the state governments and 12,912 government and private aided colleges affiliated to state public universities.