MPs demand hike in salary before Aug 14

NEW DELHI, August 1: Lok Sabha members today took the government to task for the inordinate delay in approving a hike in their salaries and...

NEW DELHI, August 1: Lok Sabha members today took the government to task for the inordinate delay in approving a hike in their salaries and perks.Led by Samta Party leader Nitish Kumar, MPs from across the political spectrum demanded that government announce the increase before the current Monsoon session of Parliament ends on August 14.

In a speech that garnered much support from almost all the members present in the House, Nitish Kumar said the image of the MPs was getting tarnished with frequent reports in the media about the increase in MPs’ salaries. But the truth was that despite repeated reminders, the government was yet to announce the hike. “Nothing has happened in over one year”, he complained.

Other members shouted that the allowances given to ministers should be cut if the bill on MPs salaries was not taken up. Nitish Kumar was supported by members from all the parties who insisted that the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Srikant Jena give a commitment as to when the bill on the pay hike would be forthcoming.

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Jena’s reply that he could not give a commitment, but would have to consult the Prime Minister on the issue led to an uproar from the Opposition benches.Finally, Union Railways Minister Ram Vilas Paswan stood up to speak. His tentative reply that Indian legislators were paid much less than their counterparts in other countries was greeted with hooting and heckling by BJP members.

Nitish Kumar threatened that he would introduce a private member’s bill to curtail facilities enjoyed by ministers if their salaries were not increased.Nitish Kumar said he had been reminding Jena about the issue almost everyday but to no avail. “How does the government expect us to function on the Rs 5000 per month we get now?”, he wanted know.

“Government will take a decision soon”, Paswan promised him.Santosh Mohan Dev (Congress) said the members were told that the hike would be effected but nothing was done.

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said the designation gives law enforcement “enhanced powers to combat a group that has instilled fear through violence and intimidation”.

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