Proposed commission to decide MPs' salary gets good response

The government's proposal to set up an independent emoluments commission to determine the salary and allowances of members of parliament found support at a conference of chief whips of legislatures held here on Wednesday.

Adopting a resolution in this regard, the conference also urged the states to ensure uniformity in salaries for legislators across the country with varying allowances depending on the situation in each state, a statement said here.

The ministry of parliamentary affairs has proposed a three-member emoluments commission to determine the salary and allowances of MPs, keeping in view the responsibilities of MPs in a fair, transparent and equitable manner.

The proposal was extensively deliberated at the 17th All India Whips Conference and was adopted on Wednesday.

The conference urged the central and state governments to take the lead in establishing inter-party forums in parliament and state legislatures for enabling regular dialogue to tackle contentious and vexed issues.

These forums would work informally and enable better performance of the houses, the statement said.

It also sought revision of guidelines for implementation of MPLADS (Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme) and analogous schemes in the states to make them more flexible for effectively catering to the needs of local people by addressing infrastructure gaps.

In his concluding remarks at the conference, union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said there was a need to re-define the role of the Rajya Sabha and state legislative councils in the present political situation.

He said instances of "illogical disturbance" and pandemonium in parliament and state legislatures have created some kind of negative feeling regarding politicians.

The minister said the opposition should not play an "obstructionist" role.

Referring to the monsoon session of parliament, he said: "Bills essential for nation's growth were blocked due to disturbance."

He said disorderly behaviour of members in parliament and state legislatures was a matter of concern. "It affects work of these institutions. Time has come for us to seriously introspect on these issues," he said.

Naqvi said ideological differences should not come in the way of the country's progress.