Jammu, Mar 11: Congress legislators has condemned appointments of vice chairman’s made by Mehbooba Mufti terming that it would further burden bankrupt State exchequer in order to please party leaders who had lost the public mandate in recent elections.
In a statement issued to KNS, Congress legislators including Nawang Rigzin Jora, Ghulam Mohammad Saroori, Haji Abdul Rashid Dar, Aijaz Ahmed Khan, Vikar Rasool Wani, Usman Majeed, Mohammad Amin Bhat, Mumtaz Ahmed Khan, Asgar Ali Karbalaie, Gulzar Ahmed Wani, Chowdhary Akram, and Delden Namgyal have said that the PDP-BJP contrary to its claims of taking austerity measures to reduce the burden on the state exchequer, the government appointed 16 politicians as vice-chairpersons of the financially overburdened public sector enterprises (PSEs).
They said vice chairman’s would be paid Rs 16 lakhs per month from the coffers of the state government, which is already facing financial crunch. These vice chairman’s are entitled to a monthly salary of Rs 80,000 per month, besides hefty perks and allowances to “serve” the PSEs.
Congress legislators said that government has failed to pay pensions, clearance of work done liability of the contractors, salary and other financial benefits to its regular employees; however, it’s adorning Mehbooba’s close confidents with plum posts, which is putting extra burden on exchequer.
In contrast, daily wagers and other contractual employees of the PDP-BJP government have been denied wages and wrong policies of PDP-BJP are leading to the financial crises in the State.
Besides the monthly salary, perks, allowances and other benefits, these politicians are entitled to chauffeur-driven vehicles, personal staff and other advantages. Those who were appointed hold posts in various corporations and public sector undertakings (PSUs) which are often termed as ‘white elephants’ devoid of productive results.“The status, perks and facilities provided to these political appointees are equal to those availed by the cabinet ministers and ministers of state which runs into crores of rupees”, Congress legislators added. (KNS)