Lok Sabha clears MPs perks bill
During the Monsoon Session of the Parliament, the Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Salary, Allowances, and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
As per the report, the bill will reduce the salaries of MPs by 30 percent for one year “to meet the exigencies arising out of COVID-19 pandemic”.
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Meanwhile, TMC MP Mahua Moitra said, that the government came to power on promises of transparency and accountability.
She added that "In the past 6 years, we've had very little of that from the government. The MPLADS is perhaps the only thing where MPs are directly accountable to their constituents."
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Earlier in the day, Navneet Ravi Rana, Independent MP from Amravati, Maharashtra, said "Please take our (MPs) salaries, but please do not cut MPLADS funds (Members of Parliament Local Area Development) meant for development works."
Reportedly, it will replace the Salary, Allowances, and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, which was cleared by the Cabinet on April 6.
As per the ordinance, the coronavirus pandemic has shown the importance of expeditious relief and assistance. Therefore, it is necessary to take "certain emergency measures to prevent and contain the spread of this pandemic," it stated.
-PTC News
