MP salary hike : Speaker silent, congress refuses to take a stand

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar today preferred to remain neutral on the question of salary hike for MPs, an issue which stalled the proceedings of the House for two hours.


"At the moment, you saw a turmoil in the House and their (MPs') different opinions. When different opinions are there in the House, for a Speaker, who is supposed to be neutral, to express her opinion will not be proper," she told reporters outside Parliament House.

To a question on setting up a separate salary commission for MPs to decide on their pay package, Kumar said she will have to go through the issue.

Members of several parties led by RJD chief Lalu Prasad today forced adjournment of the Lok Sabha for two hours protesting the deferment of hike in salaries and allowances of MPs.


Congress today refused to comment on the issue of MPs' salary hike saying it's a matter between Government and the Joint Parliamentary Committee, which had recommended that the members should be paid one rupee more than that of a Cabinet Secretary.

"JPC has given its recommendation. It is now for the government to take a view. It is a matter between the JPC and the government. Congress essentially does not need to take a stand on the issue," party spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters here.

Asked to comment on reports of differences in the Union Cabinet over the issue, a party leader on the condition of anonymity said there is "no squabble" about whether or not to hike MPs' salary but "its timing" has to be considered.


Source : PTI