The mercurial RJD chief came to the aid of fellow MPs by making a strong case for an increase in their salaries.
Lok Sabha members led by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad cornered the government on Tuesday for the delay in announcing a hike in their salaries.
The mercurial RJD chief came to the aid of fellow MPs by making a strong case for an increase in their salaries. Members also forced a two-hour adjournment of Lok Sabha, and this ultimately led leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee to assure them that the bill for increasing their salaries would be brought during the current session of parliament.
The day began on a stormy note with MPs raising the issue of police atrocities against farmers in Uttar Pradesh protesting land acquisition. Soon, the demand for a salary hike overshadowed the matter and Lalu started lambasting the government for the delay in salary hike.
Without naming anybody, he berated some of the Cabinet ministers who had opposed the salary hike bill, in his inimitable style. “Mein sab ke Swiss account ke baare mein jaanta hoon. Jo mantri yeh kehte hain ke MPs ki salary badane se galat sandesh jayega mein un ka banda phor kar doonga,” he said.
Not leaving it at that, he warned those “Rajya Sabhawalas (some Cabinet ministers from Rajya Sabha) to stop opposing the salary hike. “In Rajya Sabha walon ko kya pata hai janta se kese deal karna parta hai,” he said to thunderous applause.
Lalu blamed the government for “insulting MPs” by delaying the issue and systematically leaking information to the media. He also scorned the electronic media for “launching a campaign berating the salary hike”.
Several Congress members were also seen supporting the demand for a fair deal to lawmakers. They were also seen gesturing to BJP members to stand up and support the issue.
However, the BJP members were quiet as had been advised by their leader LK Advani not to push for the hike as this was unethical.
The MPs became quiet only after the finance minister said the bill would be introduced in the current session.
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