Shanta Kumar now: Cut pay of MPS inside well

A DAY after BJP veteran L K Advani expressed displeasure over the role of the government and the Speaker in the logjam in Lok Sabha, another senior BJP leader, Shanta Kumar, urged the Speaker to block salary and allowances of MPS who disrupt proceedings, and expel them if they repeat it.

He said it was “shameful” that Opposition MPS have been going into the well, chanting slogans and even hooting. Accusing some parties of “crossing all limits”, he asked the Speaker to consider cancelling allowances and salaries of those in the well. Should one repeat it, he or she should be expelled for the entire session, he said.

“After 70 years of independence, the country's politics should have been more serious, decent, disciplined and mature. Instead, values in public life continue to fall. Consequently, the term politician is not a symbol of respect,” Shanta Kumar wrote to the Speaker.

Because of such such behaviour, he said, MPS like him would be embarrassed to look young children in the face when they come to see Parliamentary proceedings.

On Wednesday, Advani told I&B Minister M Venkaiah Naidu that MPS not working should not draw salaries. Sources said Advani, who had a brief meeting with the Speaker Thursday, too suggested pay cuts for disruptions.

Although the Speaker did not give the veterans any assurance, she warned slogan shouting members of "harsh steps" if they did not stop protesting and disrupting those who were speaking.

Shanta Kumar writes to Speaker