TDP vows support to new JAC of employees

-Govt cannot blackmail employees: Ashok Babu
Financial crisis used as a pretext to deny PRC

AMARAVATI: TDP MLC Paruchuri Ashok Babu on Tuesday asserted that there would be no sanctity or legality to the agreement reached between the four employees’ leaders and the Ministers’ committee regarding the 11th PRC.

Ashok Babu said that majority employees and teachers’ associations broke away from the existing JAC in protest against the betrayals of these four leaders and the Government. They have formed a new JAC to continue their agitation for 27 percent fitment, proper HRA, CCA and other benefits.

Addressing a press conference here, the TDP MLC categorically said that the TDP would extend full support to the new JAC both physically and morally. Their demands were justified and their struggle was ethical. CM’s Advisor Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy was wrong. It was clear now that the employees’ stir would not become a closed chapter till their demands were met.

Ashok Babu termed it as unfortunate that the Government was not learning any lessons even after the stupendous success of Chalo Vijayawada on February 3. The DGP himself accepted intelligence failure due to inefficiency of lower level police staff. However, the Government was shaken and used threats to coerce the four leaders.

The TDP MLC asserted that the ruling YSRCP would not be able to suppress employees with threats and blackmail. They were making needless comments that Chandrababu was behind the strike. The TDP would definitely support the new JAC. The employees should continue their fight till their demands are met. There would be no ‘blue flag’ in the State by 2024.

Ashok Babu strongly objected to the police collecting addresses of the teachers all over the State. Such intimidatory tactics would not work. The employees’ demand had sanctity since they were only asking for 27 percent fitment that was already being given as IR in their present salaries.

Expressing serious concern, the TDP MLC called it a ‘big lie’ on the part of the Government to say that the financial crisis was the reason for its inability to give a better PRC. This was totally wrong. When massive loans were included, the YCP regime had good revenue. Jagan Reddy’s policies had devastated the financial situation but not lesser revenues.

Ashok Babu recalled how the Chandrababu regime gave 43 percent fitment even when AP got a revenue of just Rs. 86,308 Cr during 2015-`16. At that time, there was Rs. 15,000 Cr deficit. But now, the State would get over Rs. 1.32 Lakh Cr revenue by the end of 2021`-22. However, the Jagan Reddy Government was not willing to give a reasonable PRC.