New Delhi, August 21: Lok Sabha members in the opposition complained against their salary hike by holding a mock drill of House proceedings on Friday.
The Union Cabinet has given its assent for the salary of a member of parliament to be raised from Rs16,000 to Rs50,000, a three-fold increase. The government has doubled other benefits too.
Senior leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Yadav led the protesting members to the well of the House demanding that they be given a five-fold salary hike suggested by a parliamentary committee. BJP members had been told by LK Advani not to demand a pay hike, so they supported the protesters by pretending to oppose the passage of the Medical Council of India (MCI) bill.
Soon after deputy speaker Karia Munda and leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee left the room after the passage of the bill, a “full fledged” mock session started.
Lalu Prasad Yadav christened himself “prime minister” and Mulayam took the responsibility of ensuring the smooth functioning of the House. Munde became leader of the opposition.
“I was elected prime minister today. We will see what is to be done on Saturday. I have heard the views of the House and the people. And accordingly the government has decided to reject the bills passed earlier today,” Lalu said. He told members of the “new government” that they will meet again on Saturday at 10 am and discuss the salary hike and other bills. The drama lasted nearly two hours.
Apart from their own team. Rashtriya Janata Dal and Samajwadi Party members — Lalu and Mulayam got the support of the Janata Dal (United) and BJP. Uday Singh and Kirti Azad of the BJP were heard protesting against the sudden passage of the MCI bill, but accepted the leadership of the two Yadavs on the salary hike. Though the demand for a bigger hike was the theme of the mock session, the BJP did not want to be seen backing calls for more pay. So, it stuck to complaining over the passage of the MCI bill. This was accepted by other parties to ensure the main opposition party’s participation.
Earlier MPs protesting the revised salary package raised slogans on implementing the parliamentary committee’s report on salaries and allowances. The committee had recommended that the salary of an MP be raised to Rs80,001 per month, a rupee more than the salary of a cabinet secretary.
–Agencies–