Is DMK's New Pension Scheme Merely an Election Strategy?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Nainar Nagenthran criticizes the DMK's pension scheme as a political maneuver.
- The DMK had promised to reinstate the Old Pension Scheme but has not delivered.
- The timing of the announcement raises doubts about the government’s sincerity.
- Protests from government employees have gone largely unaddressed.
- The BJP anticipates a shift towards the NDA in Tamil Nadu's elections.
Chennai, Jan 3 (NationPress) The president of the Tamil Nadu BJP, Nainar Nagenthran, has voiced strong criticism against the state government's recent announcement regarding a revised pension scheme, labeling it as an election-driven tactic designed to mislead the public as the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) approaches the end of its term.
Nagenthran pointed out that the DMK had made a clear commitment to reinstate the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for government employees in its manifesto during the 2021 Assembly elections, yet this promise remains unfulfilled after almost five years.
“Having maintained silence for the entirety of its term, the government has now introduced a revised pension plan right before the elections. This raises significant concerns regarding its authenticity,” he remarked.
Questioning the timing of this announcement, the BJP leader inquired what has prompted the DMK government to take action at this juncture and whether the promise will be genuinely implemented.
He accused the government of attempting to sow confusion among government employees and mislead their representative bodies, notably the Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers Organisations and Government Employees Organisations (JACTO-GEO), which has been persistently advocating for the restoration of the OPS.
Nagenthran further alleged that numerous protests from various sectors of government employees, including nurses, sanitation workers, and secondary grade teachers, have gone unanswered by the DMK government.
“Despite ongoing demonstrations and requests, their legitimate demands have been overlooked. Now, with elections on the horizon, the government is trying to portray itself as supportive of employees,” he claimed.
Reflecting on a pattern of unfulfilled promises, Nagenthran noted that the DMK has also failed to act on significant electoral commitments, such as abolishing the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and reducing the price of LPG cylinders by Rs 100.
“These pledges remain unfulfilled to this day,” he stated.
Discussing political dynamics leading up to the Assembly elections, Nagenthran mentioned that the effects of the recent visit by the Union Home Minister to Tamil Nadu would soon be observable.
He accused the DMK of practicing what he termed “fake secularism” and expressed confidence that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would emerge victorious in the upcoming Tamil Nadu elections.