Govt cuts short MLAs’ dream of pocketing more cash

Minister Lalji Verma,expressed inability to raise the salary and perks as well as making provisions for family pension for MLAs,owing to “not so good” economic condition of the state government.

Samajwadi Party legislator Arif Anwar Hashmi said the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations had been implemented,but the legislators remained the loser.

He said the MLAs were getting Rs 3,000 per month as salary which was similar to that of a daily-wage labourer. Joining the issue,Suresh Srivastava of the BJP said the monthly pension of former MLAs should be raised to Rs 20,000,while Pradip Mathur of the Congress demanded provision of family pension to legislators. Suresh Khanna of the BJP said the salary of the legislators should be linked with price index.

No more spitting in UP House
The paan masala chewing members of the UP Assembly were taken aback on Tuesday when Speaker Sukhdeo Rajbhar warned them of strict action if they are found spitting within the premises of the Assembly building and galleries of the House. The Speaker said this during the Question Hour when BJP legislator Vidya Sagar Gupta had raised a question demanding the ban on the manufacture and sale of the paan masala and guthka. Intervening into the discussion,the Speaker said,“It is unfortunate that people spit in public places. None would be spared if found spitting in the galleries of the House.”