Lalu & Co. now demand tax-free pay
Members of Parliament, who have virtually united cutting across party lines on increases in their salaries and perks, want their remuneration to be free of income-tax. Their views were articulated by Mr Lalu Prasad Yadav and Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav at a meeting called by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday.
The Yadavs have been pressing for a hike in the salaries of MPs to Rs 80,001 and are not satisfied with the Rs 50,000 approved by the Union Cabinet on Friday.
According to sources, when Mr Mukherjee and others in the meeting did not respond to the suggestion from RJD chief Lalu Yadav and Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav that MPs’ salaries be kept out of the ambit of income-tax, they pressed for a further increase in allowances by Rs 10,000.
Besides these leaders, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, deputy leader of the BJP in the Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav were also present at the meeting though they did not say anything about tax-free salaries.
The government has not yet made up its mind on these suggestions but official sources said, “We have to give full consideration to their demands.”
They indicated that the government is “open” to increasing the office expenses allowance by Rs 5,000 and by an equal amount the constituency allowance from what the Cabinet had decided on Friday. Meanwhile, Mr Munde said the salary matter has been left to Mr Pranab Mukherjee. “Whatever decision he takes after holding discussions... He will also hold deliberations with others,” he said.
In a related development, Mr Sharad Yadav said the government should constitute an independent mechanism on the lines of the Pay Commission for government servants to periodically review the salary of MPs and recommend hikes.
This has been the line of the Left parties, which, as a matter of principle, oppose MPs increasing their own salaries and allowances.
Comments
This govt has no right to
sunil
23 Aug 2010 - 01:53
This govt has no right to waste public money on such people who thinks nation secondary on their own greed. We need to take their property out.
This is emerging third front
SUBHASH SAINI
22 Aug 2010 - 18:01
This is emerging third front in the Indian Parliament. It is lead by dedicated, determined and tested leaders.Their demands: Rs.1,00,000 tax free basic salary; free air, rail and road travel; free, furnished accomodation; free phones, water, electricity; unlimited funds to develop their home turf. They have absolute majority; and outside support of the moral brigade. Soniajee endorses their cause.
The future generation will celebrate their achievement and solidarity.
MP's Salary must have been
mk chatterjee
22 Aug 2010 - 11:20
MP's Salary must have been increased with those for Central Govt. Staff and it should not be any thing less than 80,000 (Salary for Secretaries). But one more and most important thing is that MP's Fund "Sansad Nidhi" must be stopped as they should question in the Parliament about their area's problems and necessities rather than executing the services like doing their own work. Any Way ! if there is any organisation, press or thinker to back reasons for general employees pension who cant avoid tax liabilities, expenses out of his own salary.
MK Chatterjee
Yes, it can be done, provided
R.K.GUPTA
22 Aug 2010 - 10:24
Yes, it can be done, provided they agree to pay taxes on what they recieve under the table?
Every Indian should pay tax
Naresh
22 Aug 2010 - 10:16
Every Indian should pay tax on his income... be careful... its excepting with out tax its shameful... release your corrors of money then you ask. All MPs should declare there properties on their family memebers... and Indian govt should put bill for trasfering property to person next genartion.
Surely, it hurts seeing the
Nikhilesh Mishra
22 Aug 2010 - 10:11
Surely, it hurts seeing the MPs who never meet an eye on any issue, are always seen united when it comes to increase in the pay and perks of MPs. These MPs should also come forward when it comes to any of the matter that is related to the nation as united.
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