AGARTALA, Nov 7 (TIWN): As the BJP-led Tripura Government declared a 5% DA hike for its government employees and pensioners, former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Thursday said, a 5% DA hike is not extraordinary as the government is not paying DA every year. “It’s not that, when we were in power, we could give full DA every year but we can say that we gave two times DA every year,” said Sarkar recalling every year 8 to 10% DA that was given by his government since the 20’s era.

Sarkar also said, “Now that practice (annual twice DA) has been brought to an end. Moreover, as per my best knowledge, 23% DA is still pending under the BJP Government. Our government aimed to mitigate the DA gap with the central employees always.”

“Now it’s not a double-engine! It’s a triple-engine government because Tipra Motha is added. At center also, it’s only their government and so the full DA could be given if the state government pressurizes the center. But seems, it lacks interest to do so. If DA gap is cleared, many of their (Ministers/ MLAs) family members also will benefit,” added Sarkar said by pinching the BJP leadership showing how so many opposition party supporters’, leaders’ family members got government jobs under the Left Front Govt.