BJP MPs Won’t Take Salary for ‘Criminal Wastage’ of Taxpayers’ Money in Parliament Logjam:
NEW DELHI : The BJP MPs and those of its allies will forego their salaries and allowances for 23 days, the duration of the second half of the Budget session, to protest non-functioning of Parliament because of disruptions.
The BJP’s move came on a day when the Lok Sabha yet again couldn’t transact any business because of disruptions, while the Rajya Sabha witnessed 11 adjournments, including 10 adjournments from 2 pm as the government unsuccessfully pushed for the passage of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill in the din.
Ananth Kumar’s announcement at a hurriedly-convened media briefing comes amid speculation that the government was in favour of adjourning parliament tomorrow, instead of Friday as scheduled earlier.
This is the first time in recent decades that lawmakers have decided to forgo their salary. There have, of and on, been calls to introduce the principle of “no work, no pay” for lawmakers. But this provision wasn’t incorporated in the law pushed through parliament by the government that has given lawmakers a huge pay hike, and an automatic raise every five years.
Union minister Ananth Kumar said that since Parliament hasn’t been functional, the government has no right to take people’s money.“BJP-NDA MPs have decided to not take salary and allowances for 23 days as Parliament has not been functional. This money is given to serve the people and if we are not able to do so we have no right to take the people’s money,” said Ananth Kumar.
He further hit out at the Congress party, “It’s because of Congress’s undemocratic politics that Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have not been functional. We’re ready to talk about all the issues but they are not letting the houses function.”
Meanwhile, leaders of at least 15 Opposition parties are slated to hold protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament on Thursday on various issues, including banking scam, SC/ST issue and CBSE Paper leak.
This comes as the Budget session of Parliament is headed for a washout. Apart from the passage of the Union Budget, no major Bill has been cleared during the session.Among the important bills pending in Parliament during the session are triple talaq bill, Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 and National Medical Commission Bill, 2017.
The government, however, pushed two bills – The Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill and The Specific Relief (Amendment) Bill, for passage amid din with the Lok Sabha passing them with a voice vote without debate.
Since March 5, when Parliament had met after a recess, the Lok Sabha has seen disruptions on a daily basis. Amid the din, the Finance Bill and the appropriation bills were yesterday passed by the House without discussion.
Recently, Ananth Kumar had hit out at the Congress for Parliament impasse, saying, “It seems (Congress leaders) Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi don’t believe in democracy. They speak outside (the house) on democracy but don’t practice it in Parliament. The Congress(men) doesn’t have democracy in their genes.”
He had asked other parties to discuss the pending bills constructively.”We have included all important issues in the list of business. We have also issued a three-line whip to all our MPs. We request all the parties to let the house function and hold constructive discussions,” the Minister had said.
