NDA MPs To Take 23-Day Pay Cut As Parliament Didn't Function Due To Disruptions

BJP MPs and its NDA allies have refused salary and allowances for the second phase of the budget session because the parliament did not function properly and was completely washed out.

They accused Congress of playing dirty politics and disrupting the sessions and said that they will take a pay cut of the 23 days in which proceedings in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were paralysed by protests in the post-recess part of the budget session. This is the first time that so many MPs will let go of their salaries for such a long period of time.

Union parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar, while announcing the salary decision at a media briefing, blamed the Congress party for the disruptions, writes Hindustan Times. “The Congress is engaging in anti-democratic politics by stopping important bills from being passed, which is leading to criminal wastage of taxpayers’ money,” he said, further adding, “Since no work is being done, we have decided not to take money.”

Responding to Kumar’s accusation, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, “A party that disrupted Parliament for over three-and-a-half years is indulging in the symbolism of doublespeak and denigrating Parliament. The present is a rare instance in the history of Indian parliamentary democracy where the ruling party did not allow Parliament to function, subjugated parliamentary process, and insulted the institution sacrosanct to democracy.”

Surjewala added that having ‘stifled’ the institution, the BJP’s shallow symbolism and rhetoric will not absolve the Modi government.

However, one BJP MP refused to give up his salary. Subramanian Swamy told ANI that it wasn’t his fault that the House didn’t run. He said, “I used to go daily. If House didn’t run it isn’t my fault. Anyhow, I’m President’s representative, until he says so, how can I say I’ll not take my salary.”

Stagnation in parliament

The parliament has not functioned in the last 23 days. The entire country’s budget was passed in less than 30 mins without any discussions. There were 21 amendments that were introduced in the Finance Bill, 2018 and all of them were passed in the Lower House of the Parliament without any discussion.

There were several protests and disruptions. Congress MPs were protesting against the Nirav Modi fraud. On the other hand, TDP MPs demanded “special category status” for Andhra Pradesh. AIADMK members were protesting and raising slogans over the Cauvery water-sharing issue.

Members of parliament earn Rs 1.4 lakh every month, including allowances, and get an additional Rs 2,000 for each day the House is in session. The amount that each MP will forego comes to Rs 1.53 lakh, reported Hindustan Times.