Govt extorting donations for Corona fund: Surjewala

Box: Old age pension not paid: Selja

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Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee president Kumari Selja said old age pension for February and March had not been disbursed in Yamunanagar and other areas. She said the government had announced that Rs 1,000 would be added every week into bank accounts of construction workers and Rs 500 in Jan Dhan accounts, but only Re 1 was credited. Claims of free ration and food to the needy were not visible on the ground, she said.

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 8

All India Congress Committee (AICC) communication in-charge Randeep Surjewala today accused the Khattar government of “extorting donations” for the Haryana Corona Relief Fund.

He shared a letter of the District Education Officer of Panipat dated April 3 which asked Block Education Officers to ensure registration of all group B and group C employees for donations into Corona Relief Fund. The letter mentioned that those who don’t donate their salary for March will be blocked. He pointed out that heads of departments were taking approvals of their subordinates for donations in Whatsapp groups.

Addressing a press conference, he said a web portal had been created by the government in which employees were being made to donate 10 per cent, 20 per cent or more of their monthly pay.

“The state government has already raised more than Rs 63.68 crore from 1.64 lakh employees of the state,” he said. “We are not against collecting donations, but the way it is being done by Haryana Government.”

Surjewala said that it was more shocking that those on the frontline of the battle against Covid such as doctors, nurses and Health Department employees have not been spared. “When our doctors, nurses and the police personnel were doing their duties by wearing raincoats and helmets in the absence of personal protection equipment, such coercive measures only reflect the inhuman, arrogant and insensitive attitude of the government,” he added.

People want to know the amount of donations by the Haryana Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Ministers, MPs, MLAs, Chairmen and Members of the Boards, Corporation and Commission, if any, to the Corona Relief Fund, he said. The government should inform if they have used the fund for any purchase of PPE for doctors, nurses, health workers, policemen, sanitation workers, he added.