Jung sends back wage hike file

Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Friday sent back the file with the AAP government's proposal to hike minimum wages in Delhi, triggering fresh accusations against him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

In principal, the LG has okayed the wage hike but the city government needs to send the proposal again in view of the recent High Court order, said Delhi Labour Minister Gopal Rai. The High Court had held that the Lieutenant Governor is the administrative head of Delhi.

“Objecting to the committee formed for reviewing minimum wages, the LG has returned the file. We will remove the shortcomings and send the file again for LG’s approval as per the court's order,” he said.

Kejriwal mocked the decision by “Modi’s LG”, saying it comes on a day when workers nationwide are on strike.

“On a day when 18 crore workers are on strike, Modi's LG returns file on minimum wage,” Kejriwal tweeted.

Confirming the receipt of the file from the LG office, Labour Minister Gopal Rai said, “Delhi government was taking decisions on its own prior to the High Court order. Now we have to submit the proposal again for LG's approval.”

The AAP government has proposed a hike in minimum wages from Rs 9,500 to Rs 14,000. Rai said the file was sent to the LG on August 24, said Rai.

“LG sahab returned the file to increase minimum wages in Delhi,” tweeted Rai.
Rai called an “emergency meeting” with officials of the Labour department at Delhi Secretariat.

Kejriwal also slammed the Prime Minister for “modelling” in Reliance Industries Limited advertisements, referring to his photograph appearing in newspapers ads for a new venture. “PM as Mr Reliance,” Kejriwal tweeted.

“Modi ji, you keep on modeling in Reliance advertisement. The labour force of the whole nation will teach you a lesson in 2019,” he tweeted.

Aam AadmiParty MLA Alka Lamba also took a swipe at the PM over the advertisement. Even the Prime Minister is on sale in this country, she tweeted in Hindi. “Is desh mein bikta hai sab kuch bas ek kharidaar chahiye, khiladi, abhineta, yaha tak ki pradhanmantri bhi.”

Atishi Marlena, an aide to Education Minister Manish Sisodia also attacked the LG and the PM in a tweet.  “As workers strike for minimum wages, PM models for Reliance, LG returns file for Delhi govt increasing wages. Wah!”

The Labour minister said that the government will get the minimum wages increased “at any cost”. “Nobody can survive in Rs 4,000 to Rs 8,000 in today's world. Hats off to these people who are managing with such low wages. The government will make sure workers get their due share,” said Rai.