One DA is not a festival gift, but an insult to employees - Kannababu

Kakinada, October 19: YSRCP Regional Coordinator and former minister Kurasala Kannababu came down heavily on Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, stating that offering just one DA while four DAs are pending is not a festival gift but a betrayal of government employees. Addressing the media at his Kakinada camp office, he said the TDP-led coalition government has cheated employees just like it has betrayed every section of society in Andhra Pradesh.
Kannababu questioned how Chandrababu Naidu could celebrate through his media by projecting one DA release as a major achievement. He said the government has failed to constitute the PRC Commission for over 16 months, nor has it cleared ₹31,000 crore pending arrears of employees. Chandrababu is using the excuse of court cases to escape from promises on pensions and withholding allowances without any timeline, he said.
He added that the so-called Diwali package was just a publicity gimmick. “Employees were promised resolution on PRC, CPS abolition, pending allowances, medical reimbursement, GPS, GPF, and leave encashment—but none of these promises have been fulfilled. Instead, Naidu is hoodwinking employees by announcing just Rs. 160 crore for one DA while four DAs since January 2024 remain unpaid,” he said.
Kannababu further accused the coalition government of removing jobs rather than creating them. He highlighted that after coming to power, Chandrababu removed volunteers, terminated FiberNet staff, NREGS field assistants, and scrapped MDUs and APSBCL jobs. He accused the government of trying to dismantle the Secretariat system and cancel APCOS, which provided transparent employment to one lakh families during YS Jagan’s tenure.
“Only under YS Jagan Mohan Reddy were employees respected. He implemented 27% IR, cleared DA arrears left by Chandrababu, enhanced contract wages, implemented minimum time-scale, and supported workers even during COVID. Chandrababu has always been anti-employee, and he has once again proved it,” Kannababu said.
He demanded that the government release all pending DAs, constitute PRC, clear arrears and allowances, and fulfill pre-election commitments to employees without delay.