New Delhi: Expressing concerns over the Centre’s decision to stop the hike in Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief to all government employees and pensioners, Congress leader and former PM Manmohan Singh on Saturday said that it is not necessary to impose hardships on government servants.

“I sincerely believe it is not necessary at this stage to impose hardships on government servants and also on the armed forces people,” said the former Prime Minister in a video message put out on Congress’ Twitter handle.
The Ministry of Finance on Thursday stopped a hike in dearness allowance (DA) for the central government employees and dearness relief (DR) for the central government pensioners till July next year.

केंद्रीय कर्मचारियों के महंगाई भत्ता (DA) काटने पर कांग्रेस ने उठाए सवाल, महंगाई भत्ता काटना केंद्र सरकार का असंवेदनशील और अमानवीय फैसला- @INCIndia @RahulGandhi #Manmohansingh

Read-https://t.co/0VrB6UaCKR pic.twitter.com/BdVMz2HsF4

— Newsroom Post (@NewsroomPostCom) April 25, 2020

According to the order issued, no arrears will be paid for the period from January 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021.

“In view of the crisis arising out of COVID-19, it has been decided that the additional instalment of dearness allowance payable to Central Government employees and dearness relief to Central Government pensioners, due from January 1, 2020, shall not be paid,” the order said. (ANI)