Priyanka said that while the government talked about showering flowers on frontline workers during the coronavirus pandemic, it dismissed 500 workers when they raised their voices.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hit out at the Yogi Adityanath government alleging 500 workers were sacked in Uttar Pradesh by invoking the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. (ANI photo)
Taking to Twitter, Vadra wrote that while the government talked about showering flowers on frontline workers during the coronavirus pandemic, it dismissed 500 workers when they raised their voices for their rights. "During the prevailing Covid-19 period in Uttar Pradesh, the government used to talk about showering flowers on ambulance workers. But, as soon as they (workers) raise their voice for their rights, the government is talking about 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," Vadra wrote in Hindi.
On May 27, 2021, ESMA was invoked in Uttar Pradesh that prohibits agitations in all forms in all state government departments and corporations for six months.
Earlier, the BJP-led government invoked the ESMA in the state on May 22, 2020 for six months. It was for another six months on November 25, 2020.
The Uttar Pradesh Assembly election is scheduled to be held in 2022.