Opinion among politicians over pay increase for parliamentarians is divided
The Indian Parliament (Photo: PTI/File)
New Delhi: Taking note of adverse public reaction on reports of MPs’ panel seeking hike in salary and perks, a parliamentary panel has shelved the plan to push the issue. Instead, the panel has asked the government to project the demands of the MPs in the right perspective.
The Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of MPs, which is headed by BJP leader Yogi Adityanath, has decided not to deliberate on the issue of salary and perks anymore till the Monsoon Session of Parliament. It would hold its next meeting only after the Monsoon Session, while it’s likely to take back a number of its earlier proposals. The MPs in a meeting on Monday expressed concerns that the issue of their hike in salary and allowances was being projected in a manner “hurting” their image. Sources said that the issues concerning MPs are not projected properly and much public outcry is seen due to lack of proper handling of their concerns.
Incidentally, the parliamentary affairs ministry has already rejected most of the recommendations of the panel. Even leaders of the BJP and the Congress had disassociated with the recommendations on salary hike and perks. Leaders of major parties like Ahmed Patel (Congress) and Shanta Kumar (BJP) had disapproved of the MPs’ demands, while members belonging to various parties in the committee were almost unanimous that their salary and allowances should go up.
In fact, sources said the members of the panel asked the chairman to take up this issue with parliamentary affairs minister M. Venkaiah Naidu. However, Yogi Adityanath is learnt to have expressed concern over confidential details of the panel meetings and recommendations coming out in the media.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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