Lucknow: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has launched a scathing attack on the Uttar Pradesh government, accusing it of turning over 23,000 employees and pensioners of the Jal Nigam into “living corpses” due to six months of unpaid salaries and pensions. AAP’s chief spokesperson in UP, Vanshraj Dubey, called the BJP-led Yogi Adityanath government “incompetent and insensitive,” stating that the silence from those in power is “shameful and inhuman.”
In an official statement issued on Sunday, Dubey said,
“This is not only a violation of constitutional and humanitarian rights, but a shocking reflection of the failure of the so-called ‘double-engine’ government. For six months, families of Jal Nigam workers have been pushed to the brink—unable to pay school fees, buy groceries, afford medicines, or support their elders.”
He further claimed that many employees are now struggling with mental health issues and some have even expressed thoughts of suicide due to financial despair.
“This Is Not Governance, It’s Neglect”: Dubey Draws Comparison with Delhi
Drawing a comparison with Delhi’s administration, Dubey said,
“Under Arvind Kejriwal’s government, even retired DTC employees were given their rightful pensions after intervention. Arrears were cleared and pension flows resumed. But in Yogi’s UP, employees are reduced to begging for their due rights.”
He added that for the BJP, the matter might just be about numbers—but for AAP, it concerns the dignity and survival of 23,000 families.
“Only those who sweat day and night to earn their bread understand the value of each rupee,” Dubey said. “Not those who sit in air-conditioned offices spinning hollow promises.”
AAP’s Demands to the Yogi Government
In his statement, Dubey laid out three urgent demands on behalf of the Aam Aadmi Party:
- Immediate payment of all pending salaries and pensions.
- Direct intervention by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on the issue.
- Formulation of a permanent policy to ensure timely payments and financial security for Jal Nigam staff.
AAP Warns of Mass Protest
Dubey concluded with a stern warning to the state government.
“If the demands of Jal Nigam employees and pensioners are not addressed urgently, the Aam Aadmi Party will not remain silent. We will take this battle to the streets until justice is delivered.”
This controversy over unpaid dues adds to mounting public pressure on the state government, already facing criticism over workers’ welfare and institutional accountability.
