Bernard urges CM to release pending salaries as Xmas gift

TURA, Dec 17: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Bernard Marak has urged Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to clear the salaries of employees, which have been pending for months, as a Christmas gift.
In a statement on Saturday, Bernard said that the BJP is even willing to go beyond ideological differences and lend a helping hand if there was any roadblock in the central funding for the release of pending salaries.
“Chief Minister Conrad Sangma should clear pending salaries as a Christmas gift. He is busy and showing keen interest in promoting expensive entertainment shows while a majority of the employees are yet to receive their salaries,” Bernard said.
The BJP spokesperson mentioned that employees of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), Samagra Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) teachers, ad hoc and contractual employees, COVID-19 staff, contractors, among others, are yet to get their salaries, which have been pending for some months now.
“If he understands the true meaning of Christmas, he will walk an extra mile to ensure nobody is sad during Christmas. He should take full responsibility to clear the dues of all whose salary depends on his clearance as he holds the highest post in the state. Christmas is just a week away and the anticipation of every earning member of the family hangs in a dilemma as no interest is shown by the chief minister to provide the basic needs of the people. The Finance department is under the chief minister and everything depends on his initiative,” Bernard said.
He said that despite the clearance of central dues to the state government, the salaries of centrally sponsored contractual employees are pending.
“If, by any chance, there are pending dues in the Centre, we can help as party men. We are ready to do everything we can. BJP is ready to assist beyond any ideological differences. We want to give, not take as other parties are doing,” Bernard asserted.
“It’s also notable that PMAY, PM Kisan, IHHL, job card holders, old-age pensioners, widow pensioners, people with disabilities and other beneficiaries are yet to receive their dues. Depriving them of their salaries during Christmas is what makes politics and politicians bad,” he said.
Bernard said the BJP would not stay mute spectator to the injustice that is meted out to the poor by NPP-led MDA government as it conflicts their ideology of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas’.
“CM being appointed by BJP and receiving all support from the Centre should take utmost care and ensure that no family is deprived during Christmas,” he warned.