Demand in Rajya Sabha for early wage revision for MPs

A demand for early implementation of recommendations of a Parliamentary Committee headed by Yogi Adityanath on wages and allowances of MPs was made in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
Raising the issue, Naresh Agrawal (SP) said the Prime Minister has reportedly set up a Group of Ministers to look into the report of this committee.

Questioning the need for setting up the panel, he said it was previously stated that the report will be implemented when 7th Pay Commission for government employees is implemented.

Now that the 7th Pay Commission report has been implemented, the report on salaries and wages of Members of Parliament should be decided upon, Agrawal said.

Since MPs are above Cabinet Secretary, the law-makers should be given Rs 1000 more than what the highest bureaucrat draws, he said.

"There is no point in forming a Group of Ministers. Place the committee report in the House," he demanded.

As several other members supported his demand, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said "I am not sure if all members are in agreement (with the proposition of they themselves deciding on the hike in their salaries and allowances)."

As members shouted in support of raising wages, he said "It is up to government to consider it."

Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) demanded that the Chair direct the government to bring an appropriate bill before the House.

Agrawal said Article 106 of the Constitution provides that law-makers are not at mercy of the government. While Reserve Bank of India Governor has said that there is inflation, why isn't the government seeing it, he asked.