New Delhi: Lok Sabha passed on Tuesday the Lok Sabha passed a bill on Tuesday to cut legislators’ salaries by 30% for a year taking into account austerity measures related to demands that arise due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, almost all parties outside the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) raised a strong objection to the suspension of the MPLADS fund for two years.
Members of opposition parties also questioned why the union government withdrew funding from MPLADS for two years while projects related to the central view continued unhindered while there was a pandemic in the country.
“The central view project must be canceled and more fans brought in for the common man of this nation. Why isn’t the government cutting its spending to make sure costs go down? “Questioned Supriya Sule of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
The move is significant because several lawmakers said the suspension of funding related to MPLADS or the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme could result in impediments to ground-level work in their constituency. The union government for its part has said that the measure was temporary and necessary in an unprecedented scenario.
“Take away all of our salaries but give back the MPLAD fund. Why should deputies become targets when ministers can do any amount of work? We are doing a little work in our party … if possible, in fact, the MPLADS fund should be increased. Rather than make token gestures, I think the union government should cut down on the biggest expenses, “said Saugata Roy, Trinamool Congress Leader at the Lok Sabha during discussion on the bill.
Pinaki Mishra of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) also said that no one “holds a grudge” the reduction of wages, but the MPLADS fund belongs to the people and not to the legislators. “Its suspension takes power away from the deputies and the union government should seriously reconsider it,” she added.
The 2020 Members of Parliament (Amendment) Salary, Benefit and Pension Bill was introduced in the Lower House on Monday by the union’s minister for parliamentary affairs, Pralhad Joshi. Once signed into law, it will replace the 2020 Members of Parliament Wages, Allowances and Pension Ordinance that was passed in April this year.
“I congratulate all the members because the charity has started in both Houses. It is unprecedented as everyone is affected. When things like this happen, we must make extraordinary decisions… We are not just saying that we are doing everything, it is not about politicizing the issue. The MPLADS proposal is temporary for only two years, “Joshi said when responding at the end of the debate.
Parties such as Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party, Left Parties, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham, Congress Party YSR have opposed the measure to suspend the MPLADS fund, calling it myopic and causing problems on the ground for the implementation of the work .
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