NDA MPS’ salaries

He added: “Since no work is being done, we have decided not to take money”.

Parliament has not carried out any substantial work over the last 23 days of its session. The Finance Bill was passed without any discussion.

The disruptions include demonstrations over a bank fraud, protests by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam members over the Cauvery watersharing issue, and demands by Telugu Desam Party and YSR Congress for special category status for Andhra Pradesh that led to no-confidence motions against the Narendra Modi government.

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

The NDA has a little less fewer than 400 MPS in both houses.

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 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.

The Congress has accused the government of running away from a debate on the issues they have raised and the no-confidence motion.

Afzal Amanullah, a former parliamentary affairs secretary, said the NDA decision “defies logic”.

“The decision that all the MPS of a ruling party will not take a salary for the days Parliament didn’t function is unprecedented. But why penalise MPS who didn’t create disturbance? Some MPS may be actually dependent on their salaries,” he said.