Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed a bill that reduces the salaries of Member of Parliament by 30 percent for one year “to meet the exigencies” arising out of Coronavirus.
The Salary, Allowances, and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Bill,2020 was presented in the Lower House on Monday by Prahlad Joshi. The bill will replace the Salary, Allowances, and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 brought in April.
Opposition leaders although supported the bill to reduce MPs’ salary but protested against the scrapping of the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADs) fund for two years.
Replying to the debate, Joshi said that funds are needed to fight the current situation and they have not scrapped rather temporarily stalled for two years.
“I congratulate all members that charity has begun from both the Houses. It is unprecedented as the whole world is affected. When such things happen we need to take extraordinary decisions…We are not saying only we are doing everything. There is no question of the politicization of the issue. The MPLADS proposal is for only two years,” Joshi said.
