Mumbai, August 20: The Union Cabinet on Friday approved the bill as per which the basic salary of the MPs will be increased from Rs 16, 000 to Rs 50, 000 per month.
The decision has not satisfied the MPs. The Members of the Samajwadi Party (SP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and other parties slammed the cabinet over the minimal hike and asked the cabinet to take it back.
RJD Chief Lalu Prasad and SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav raised slogans to take back the hike in Lok Sabha.
They stood by their demand of increasing MPs salary to Rs. 80,001-one rupee more than what a government secretary gets.
“Hamara vetan waapas lo, waapas lo, waapas lo!” (Take our salary back), the protesting MPs shouted as they walked towards Speaker Meira Kumar’s podium.
Lalu Prasad alleged that the government had “insulted MPs with minimal hike”.
“The parliamentary panel (on the issue) had recommended Rs.80,001. This is insult. How can we sit silent over it?” Lalu Prasad asked when Meira Kumar asked him to take his seat and let question hour proceed.
The speaker repeatedly pleaded that the issue could be raised during Zero Hour but the protesters didn’t relent.
Meira Kumar then adjourned the house till noon.
The cabinet earlier Friday approved the salary hike for MPs, after it had put off its decision due to differences.
An MP at present gets Rs.16, 000 a month as salary but the parliamentary affairs ministry suggested raising it to Rs.50, 000 as against the Rs.80, 001 recommended by a parliamentary panel.
The panel has been demanding that the MPs should get at least a rupee more than what secretaries in the government draw.
—Agencies