Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], March 7 (ANI): As state government employees are protesting for hike in Dearness Allowance (DA), West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government cannot provide a parallel to the Centre.

Addressing the extended budget session in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said the opposition parties can cut off his head but nothing can be done to increase the subsidy.

Explaining the difference in the salary structure of the central and state governments, he said the TMC government was already giving 105 per cent DA to its employees.

“I give 105 per cent DA. How much more do you want? State government employees have different pay scales than central employees. We don’t have that capacity because they (Centre) don’t give 100 days work money to others. Accept what we give (DA issue). If you don’t like me, cut my head off. But beyond this I cannot do anything,” Banerjee said during protests in the state assembly over ex-gratia and other demands.

In the 2023-24 budget, West Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya announced a 3 per cent hike in dearness allowance for state government employees and pensioners.

Various state government employee organizations are protesting to raise the dearness allowance on par with central government employees. (ANI)