NDA MPs to forgo pay to protest House disruptions

Members of Parliament (MP) from the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will forgo salaries and allowance for 23 days — the duration of the second half of the Budget session — to protest the non-functioning of both the Houses because of disruptions by the Opposition.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) decided on this on Wednesday after the Lok Sabha could not yet again transact any business because of disruptions. The Rajya Sabha, too, was prevented from conducting any business, with 11 adjournments, including 10 from 2 pm onwards.

The government tried unsuccessfully to push for the passage of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill.

Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh moved the Bill, and the chair said the House would proceed with voting on it as no member has submitted their name for a debate.

Almost immediately, the Trinamool Congress demanded a division.

Since the division required the House to be in order and most Opposition parties continued to protest in the Well, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien had to adjourn the House.

Later in the day, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said MP’s of the BJP and the NDA allies will forego their salaries and allowances to protest the Opposition not allowing Parliament to function. He said the two Houses have not been able to function because of Congress party’s “undemocratic politics”.

In the afternoon, the Congress and other opposition parties said they wanted to discuss the Supreme Court order on the SC/ST prevention of atrocities act, and the CBSE paper leak, but the government has not reached out. The opposition has been accusing the government of a “fixed match” in disrupting Parliament to avoid taking up the no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha, and discuss issues of public importance. Opposition parties will protest at the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament on Thursday.