MPs up in arms over pay hike deferment

New Delhi: Agitated over delay in raise in their salaries and allowances, MPs cutting across party lines on Tuesday rocked Parliament, prompting the government to give an assurance that it would try to bring a bill in this regard during the current session.

Members created uproar in the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour, forcing its adjournment for two hours.

A day after the Union Cabinet deferred a decision on the proposed three-fold increase from Rs 16,000, an angry RJD chief Lalu Prasad vociferously demanded the hike.

He was joined by Mulayam Singh Yadav of Samajwadi Party and other members of SP, BSP, RJD, JD(U), Shiv Sena and Trinamool Congress.

Several Congress members were also seen standing in support of Prasad's demand for a fair deal to the law makers. They were gesticulating to BJP members to stand up in support of the issue and not remain silent spectators.

Left members appeared to have kept themselves aloof from the issue, as their parties have been historically opposing any move by Parliament to decide on the salary and allowances of members and instead have favoured an independent commission.

Speaker Meira Kumar tried to pacify them but they were in no mood to listen.

She called BJP member Yogi Adityanath to raise his Zero Hour issue, but he could not be heard in the din.

Soon after the Speaker adjourned the House till 2 PM, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee went to Prasad and was seen talking to him and Mulayam.

When the House re-assembled, Prasad and other members again created pandemonium.

At this the Finance Minister said, "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."

Noting that the government is "fully aware of the sensitivities of the issue", he said the legislation would "truly reflect" the suggestions made by the Parliamentary Committee in this regard.

He said the increased salaries would be effective from the present Lok Sabha.

Prasad was not satisfied with Mukherjee's assurance and asked him not to beat about the bush but give concrete assurance.

"We are ready. Bring the Bill tomorrow, we will pass it in two minutes," he said, leaving Mukherjee smiling.

The issue was also raised in the Rajya Sabha.

Rajniti Prasad (RJD) raised the issue when the House met for the day and instantly found support from members in the opposition benches.