Advani woos Govt, PSU staff with better pay package

Advani woos Govt, PSU staff with better pay package

7 May 2009, 0228 hrs IST, ET Bureau
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/PoliticsNation/Advani-woos-govt-staff-with-better-pay/articleshow/4493626.cms

NEW DELHI: After wooing the personnel of the armed forces by promising to execute the one-rank-one-pension scheme and ensuring tax-exemption, BJP
has now turned its gaze on another important section — employees of the central and state governments, as also those working in various public sector undertakings.

A day before the fourth phase of polls, L K Advani, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, promised to set right the “anomalies” in the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations, and to take steps to strengthen PSUs if NDA was voted to power.

“I appeal to all government and PSU employees in Delhi and elsewhere to vote for the candidates fielded by BJP and its allies in NDA,” Mr Advani said in a statement issued on the eve of the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections. If elected to power, NDA would, Mr Advani said, set right the “anomalies” in the Pay Commission’s recommendations “which have led to dissatisfaction among Group B, C and D category employees”.

The BJP leader’s assurance was calculated to lure the government employees, who were, in the assessment of the party, in either case, very angry with the Manmohan Singh government for its failure to rein in prices of essential commodities and tax rates of home loans, into backing his party.

Government employees constitute an important segment in constituencies such as New Delhi, East Delhi and South Delhi while public sectors undertakings are present in various parts of India. Besides being voters themselves, they were also seen as opinion-makers.

Mr Advani also suggested formulation of a suitable policy to help government employees own a house after retirement. He, at the same time, accused the government of pursuing “anti-worker policies” and said this had resulted in “a lot of anguish and anger among PSU employees, especially employees of the Oil Sector PSUs”.

An NDA government, he sought to assure, will “sympathetically” look into the grievances of PSU employees, fulfiling their “legitimate demands” and ensuring “speedy justice in cases of victimisation”, he said in a bid to woo the 16.14 lakh-strong employees of PSUs dotted all across the country. He pledged to further strengthen public sector, especially infrastructure development.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.hindustantimes.in/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=afa2d2c5-51d2-489f-8fe2-e42ed889754b
Advani tells PSU, Govt employees to vote for BJP
Promising to look into the grievances of government and public sector unit employees and removal of anomalies in the Sixth Pay Commission, BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani today appealed to all government officials to vote for his party.
"I appeal to all government and PSU employees in Delhi and elsewhere to vote for the candidates fielded by BJP and its allies in the NDA (for May 7 polls)," Advani said in a statement.
The veteran leader promises that if elected to power, BJP-led NDA would set right the anomalies in the Sixth Pay Commission's recommendations, which has led to dissatisfaction among Group B,C and D category employees.
He also suggests formulation of a suitable policy to help government employees own a house after retirement.
Accusing the UPA of neglecting the needs of PSU employees, Advani says in his statement, "There is a lot of anguish and anger among PSU employees, especially employees of the Oil Sector PSUs".