The 12 ministers from Telangana, who had kept off their duties since July 4, received their pay packets, while Telangana employees stand cheated.
The 12 ministers from Telangana, who had kept off their official chambers and duties since July 4, received their fat salary packets on Monday, the first of August.
It may be noted that this violates the official 'No Work No Pay' slogan raised when the Telangana staff struck work in February/March as part of their non-cooperation agitation.
The 'No Work No Pay' rule was one of the factors, though unsaid, which had forced employee unions to consider their fate and get back to their duties, but seemingly, when it comes to Ministers, rules matter little.
As seen at the Secretariat on Monday, the 12 "resigned" Telangana ministers who received their salaries along with the 3 other ministers - Danam Nagender, Mukesh Goud and Deputy Chief Minister C Damodar Rajanarasimha. The latter 3 did not resign, and received their salaries.
On an average, each minister's net pay was said to be Rs. 1.40 lakh, excluding perks.
Sources said that nowhere in the country in the past did so many ministers who had ostensibly shed their responsibilities took their pay packets as scheduled.
A veteran observer has opined that the ministers who were paid must take to some soul searching.
"It is mandatory, particularly for a public representative, to do some soul-searching in such a situation. People will emulate them, whether they are good or bad. There is a possibility of creating a bad inclination among duty-bound citizens," the observer said.
A senior employee, understandably under the condition of anonymity, wondered, "Do they not have a conscience to claim their complete pay without reviewing a single file in the Secretariat?"
Hundreds of files are said to be gathering dust, and their disposal suffering, for want of ministers. Other issues have also been pending.
When asked about the absentee ministers at the Group Of Ministers' meeting at the Secretariat earlier in the day, it was clarified that those who did not attend the Cabinet Sub-Committee had conveyed their suggestions and views on the Racha Banda subject.
On one hand, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has made it clear that the government is running short of funds and was incapable of maintaining the prestigious G M C Balayogi Stadium, which was a landmark in the country.
In official parlance, what the government announced was quite incompatible with what it practised.
The Telangana Employees' JAC, which threatened to launch its agitational program from August 1, went back to work for fear of attracting the Internal Security Act.
Even though their demands of the implementation of GO 610, the deletion of Clause 14 F, and the repatriation of employees are considered just, fact remains that these Telangana employees stand hoodwinked. (INN)