Babulal Marandi to give up 50% salary, 2 years’ MLALAD funds

TNN | Updated: Apr 8, 2020, 11:55 IST

RANCHI: Jharkhand’s first chief minister and BJP’s leader of legislative party, Babulal Marandi, on Tuesday announced to donate 50% of his monthly salary for a year and two years’ MLALAD fund to fight the outbreak of novel coronavirus. The move comes a day after the Centre decided to slash salaries of MPs by 30% for a year, besides suspension of MPLAD funds for two years to consolidate funds to fight the spread of Covid-19.
“I have decided to donate 50% of my monthly salary and two years’ MLALAD funds to fight novel coronavirus. I appeal chief minister Hemant Soren to take a similar cabinet decision and come up with tabulated figures on the quantum of contribution that is expected to be generated,” Marandi, who is an MLA from Dhanwar, said.
While BJP leaders hailed Marandi’s move, many from the Congress questioned the freeze on the MPLAD funds apprehending that the move is aimed at centralising the funds which may cause problems for local representatives to address the issues in their constituencies.
Sources in the saffron party, which has 26 MLAs in the state, said Marandi’s move may be followed by several other BJP MLAs.
Meanwhile, Congress, which has 18 MLAs and is one of the Mahagathbandhan partners, said a call will be taken on whether to give up the MLALAD funds in the future if the need arises. State Congress president Rameshwar Oraon, who is also the state finance minister, said, “It is not necessary to follow everything that others are doing. Both at the party and the individual levels we are doing our bit to help public in times of the lockdown. In Lohardaga, Rajya Sabha MP Dhiraj Sahu donated a truck full of food grains for the poor. Many such activities are being done on a daily basis.”
Oraon added that the situation in Jharkhand isn’t demanding such steps yet and the government has already put curbs on expenditure to consolidate funds for the fight against the virus. “We have put a freeze on withdrawals from the state treasury except for new notified works for this month. It is likely to continue further to generate funds for welfare works. If the need arises, the CM and his council of ministers will take a rational decision in public interest.”