LUCKNOW: Following the Union Cabinet’s nod to an ordinance reducing salaries of Members of Parliament (MPs) by 30% from April 1, there is a remote possibility that MLAs in the state would get a pay hike or their long-standing demand of getting more money under the ‘Vidhayak Nidhi’ be met.
Talking to TOI, parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Khanna said BJP welcomes PM Narendra Modi’s decision of cutting salaries of MPs for a year and diverting the money to strengthen healthcare facilities in wake of coronavirus pandemic. He, however, kept mum when asked about the chances of state MLAs getting a pay hike in near future. He also refused to comment on chances of any increase in the ‘Vidhayak Nidhi’ of MLAs in the state.
Meanwhile, sources in the chief minister's office said that, so far, no order has been issued for setting up of a high-powered committee to recommend hike in pay and perks of MLAs. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath had on the last day of the budget session on February 29 had declared that he would set up a committee under chairmanship of finance minister Suresh Khanna to review salary and perks of MLAs in other states. Members of all political parties of the state were to be given due representation in the committee which had to submit its report to the House.
The CM had taken this decision as almost entire House, including members of the ruling BJP, had sought a hike in ‘Vidhayak Nidhi’ and their salaries. But so far no order has been issued for setting up of the committee. Now, following the Centre’s decision to curtail salaries of MPs, hopes of state MLAs have further dampened and most of them are fearing that even existing facilities might be curtailed by the Yogi government.
Talking to TOI, parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Khanna said BJP welcomes PM Narendra Modi’s decision of cutting salaries of MPs for a year and diverting the money to strengthen healthcare facilities in wake of coronavirus pandemic. He, however, kept mum when asked about the chances of state MLAs getting a pay hike in near future. He also refused to comment on chances of any increase in the ‘Vidhayak Nidhi’ of MLAs in the state.
Meanwhile, sources in the chief minister's office said that, so far, no order has been issued for setting up of a high-powered committee to recommend hike in pay and perks of MLAs. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath had on the last day of the budget session on February 29 had declared that he would set up a committee under chairmanship of finance minister Suresh Khanna to review salary and perks of MLAs in other states. Members of all political parties of the state were to be given due representation in the committee which had to submit its report to the House.
The CM had taken this decision as almost entire House, including members of the ruling BJP, had sought a hike in ‘Vidhayak Nidhi’ and their salaries. But so far no order has been issued for setting up of the committee. Now, following the Centre’s decision to curtail salaries of MPs, hopes of state MLAs have further dampened and most of them are fearing that even existing facilities might be curtailed by the Yogi government.
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