Priyanka hits out at govt for ‘sacking’ 500 workers

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hit out at the Yogi Adityanath government, alleging that 500 workers (ambulance drivers and emergency medical team members) were sacked in Uttar Pradesh by invoking Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) in recent days.

Taking to Twitter, Priyanka posted in Hindi on Thursday, “While the Yogi government talked about showering flowers on ambulance drivers and other associated workers for their yeoman service during the coronavirus pandemic. But, as soon as these workers raised their voice for ensuring their rights, the government started raining sticks on them. The government sacked more than 500 workers by imposing ESMA and the public is upset. God save the state from such a government.”

On May 27, 2021, the UP government imposed the provisions of ESMA prohibiting agitations in all forms in all state government departments and corporations for six months. Earlier last year, the Bharatiya Janata Party government had invoked ESMA across the state for six months on May 22, 2020 which was extended for another six months on November 25, 2020. The Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections are scheduled to be held at the beginning of next year.