MLAs show rare unity on pay hike, elicit CM’s assurance
BJP, INLD, BSP and Independents agree in absence of Cong, HJC
CHANDIGARH: Haryana legislators, who usually grab headlines for their sharp exchanges and noisy protests, put up a rare display of unity on Thursday on hike in their own pay and allowances.
The MLAs cutting across the political spectrum spoke in one voice in the state assembly, demanding an increase in their pay and allowances in the state assembly. Their show of harmony was such that it even elicited an impromptu response from chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar who called it a pleasant surprise. “Aisi ekta shayad sadan mein pehle nahi dekhi gayi hogi (The House might have not witnessed such unity in the past),” he said.
Barring MLAs of Congress and Haryana Janhit Congress, legislators of the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP), Indian National Lok Dal ( INLD), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Independents were present in the House. BSP legislator from Prithla (Faridabad) Tek Chand Sharma was the first to raise the issue, saying that the Haryana MLAs were probably getting the least salary and allowances in the country. He pushed for an increase, citing the recommendations made by an assembly committee headed by BJP MLA Gian Chand Gupta.
“Kyonki hum ek bhrashtachar-mukt sarkar chalana chahte hain is liye yeh badhna chahiye (These should be increased because we want to run a corruption-free government),” he added. The suggestion got instant support from INLD member Zakir Hussain who not only seconded the proposal but also went into the details of salaries and allowances the MLAs were getting in other states.
Inde pendent MLA from Kalayat Jai Prakash also gave his instant support, stating that he had raised the hike issue on Wednesday too.
Responding to the members’ demand, parliamentary affairs minister Ram Bilas Sharma said that though the chief minister had given his approval to the hike in principle, the government would not be able to bring any amendment immediately as it was a money bill.
When BJP MLA Abhe Singh Yadav proposed that the government could bring the bill in the next session, he faced immediate objections from several members. A bureaucrat-turned-politician, he quickly withdrew his suggestion to a thunderous laughter from the MLAs. At that moment, Khattar stood up to intervene. The chief minister told the members that he was happy to see their smiling faces. “I would get the matter examined to see if there is a provision in rules for bringing an ordinance for this. In case a money bill is brought in the next session, we would ensure that salaries and allowances are hiked retrospectively from April 1,” he assured.
The members welcomed the announcement by thumping their desks. The MLAs may not have to wait for very long as the CM also announced that 2016 being the golden jubilee year of Haryana’s existence, a short two-day “swarnjayanti” session of the state assembly would be convened in a month or two.
Salary and allowances of Haryana legislators should be increased because we want to run a corruption-free government.
TEK CHAND SHARMA, BSP MLA