On the day Rahul Gandhi mounted an attack on the Centre and Delhi government over non-payment of salaries to municipal sanitation workers, Lieutenant Governor (LG) Najeeb Jung announced that Rs 493 crore would be released to the civic bodies today itself, to cover the dues.
Amid a worsening garbage crisis in East Delhi due to agitation by sanitation workers since June 2, mayors of the three BJP-ruled municipal bodies called on Jung and requested his intervention after which he said that the Delhi government had decided to release the funds.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had announced on Monday that his government would release Rs 493 crore to clear pending salaries of sanitation workers, doctors and teachers of two municipal corporations for April and May.
Jung today told the Mayors that the Delhi Government would release the Rs 493 crore to the civic bodies today itself.
Early in the day, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi reached out to the striking sanitation workers and slammed the Centre and AAP Government, accusing them of passing the buck on each other on the issue of addressing the employees demands.
I want to tell the karamcharis that neither the BJP government nor the (Delhi) government will ever give you anything. You must show your strength. This dharna is the right way to go. You are like soldiers. I will come to your help whenever you need.
– Rahul Gandhi
Both North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) are cash-strapped, unable to pay salaries of many employees. A section of the striking sanitation workers have lately been protesting against the AAP dispensation after the corporations held Kejriwal government “responsible” for their financial woes.
(With inputs from PTI)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)