Ruckus in House over MPs' pay

However, the increase will be given retrospective effect since the beginning of the 15th Lok Sabha. This means a further bonanza as the MPs will get arrears from May 2009. Among the added benefits, the MPs will also get up to eight free plane tickets from their place of residence to Delhi.

But despite the raise in allowances, it was a day of ruckus and uproar in Parliament with the opposition parties shouting allegations ranging from “insult to parliamentarians” to “murder of democracy.”

The members, who got wind of the Cabinet decision, began their protest as soon as the Lok Sabha began proceedings in the morning. Led by RJD chief Lalu Prasad and SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav, the members trooped into the well of the House and stalled business.

The dissatisfied Opposition members, who mostly belonged to non-BJP and non-Left parties, shouted slogans calling the Cabinet decision an “insult to parliamentarians”.
The uproar forced two adjournments before the one that took place soon after the lunch recess.

Among those who demanded the hike were members from the SP, BSP, JD(U), RJD, Shiv Sena and Akali Dal who chanted slogans like “stop the insult of MPs” and “implement the report of the parliamentary committee.” The members contended that the government had “insulted Parliament” by rejecting the recommendation of its own committee to raise the basic salary to Rs 80,001.

Amid the din, the House approved amendments to the Trade Marks (Amendment) Bill by voice vote. After lunch, similar scenes were witnessed when the House met again, with Prasad and Yadav, along with their party colleagues, rushing to the well.

In the pandemonium, the Indian Medical Council Bill, moved by Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, was passed without any discussion. This led to protests by the BJP and JD(U) which termed it as “murder of democracy.” They created an uproar, saying an important legislation should have been taken up for voting only after discussion.

In view of the pandemonium, Deputy Speaker Karia Munda adjourned the House for the day, the third in the course of the day.