Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab of adopting what it called “Mamata-style” tactics by withholding pending Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears of lakhs of government employees and pensioners.
Drawing parallels with the prolonged dispute over DA payments in West Bengal under the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government led by Mamata Banerjee, the BJP alleged that the AAP government in Punjab is following a similar approach by delaying payments while citing financial constraints.
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According to the BJP, the issue mirrors its earlier campaign in West Bengal, where it highlighted the alleged denial of employees’ rightful DA for years under the TMC government. The party claimed that the issue had become a major electoral talking point and alleged that the Mann government is now “copy-pasting” similar tactics in Punjab.
The BJP alleged that the Punjab government is citing a “deficit treasury” and “financial constraints” to justify the delay in releasing DA arrears, even as it continues to spend on VIP luxuries, self-promotional advertisements and political campaigns.
The party further accused the AAP government of discriminating against regular government employees while ensuring timely compensation for senior officials, including IAS, IPS, IFS and judicial officers.
The Punjab BJP claimed that this is the first time in the state’s history that government employees have been denied their basic right to Dearness Allowance in such a manner. While the state government has argued that separate statutory rules give it flexibility in deciding payment timelines, critics have pointed to judicial interventions that rejected such delays.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has also taken up the issue.
In Surinder Singh v State of Punjab and connected petitions heard earlier in 2026, Justice Harpreet Singh Brar ruled that Dearness Allowance is a legally enforceable right and not a government bounty. The court directed the state to release pending arrears along with interest penalties for delays, observing that the government cannot indefinitely defer payments after accepting Pay Commission recommendations.
The High Court also fixed deadlines for clearing the arrears and addressing parity in DA rates. However, according to the BJP, the Punjab government has sought more time or challenged parts of the orders, resulting in further legal proceedings.
Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon assured government employees and pensioners that the party would address the issue if it comes to power.
“Lakhs of Punjab government employees and pensioners are still waiting for their pending Dearness Allowance (DA), while BJP in Haryana has already released 60% DA to its employees. Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP government made big promises before coming to power, but today they are making nothing but excuses in the High Court. Punjab’s employees deserve their rightful dues, not endless delays,” Dhillon said.
The Punjab BJP described the issue as a “calculated conspiracy” to deny employees their legal rights. The party contrasted the situation with the Centre and several BJP-ruled states, which it said have continued regular DA releases.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
