New Delhi:
MPs are often criticized for their less-than-impressive attendance in Parliament, but today, few could be faulted for skipping work. (
Read: MPs say price rise pinching them too)
They came together to back Lalu Prasad Yadav who passionately urged the government to sanction the 300 per cent hike in salaries that MPs have been eyeing. "What is our salary...it is less than that of a junior clerk's," said Lalu, chief of the Rashtriya Janata Dal.
On Monday, divisions in the Cabinet led to the government allegedly deferring the issue to the winter session of Parliament. Ministers like P Chidambaram and Ambika Soni feel that the multiple allegations of corruption surrounding the Commonwealth Games, as well as the recent increase in fuel prices, make a raise inappropriate at this time.
MPs currently earn Rs 16,000 a month; they want to be paid Rs 50,000 a month. Compare this, they plead, to a secretary to the government who makes Rs 80,000 a month.
Senior BJP leader LK Advani asked his party's MPs not to join a public debate on the issue - advice that wasn't completely heeded.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee tried to explain, "This has to be done through a legislation. A bill has to be brought to amend the Salaries And Allowances Of Member Of Parliament Act, 1954... We are trying bring the legislation in this session."
Lalu didn't miss a beat. "We are ready. Bring the Bill tomorrow, we will pass it in two minutes," he said, prompting a smile from Mukherjee.
The Left parties called for an independent mechanism to decide hikes like this one. Lalu retorted, "Let us take the hike....and you take the old salary."