New Delhi: Seeking to make the exercise of
pay revision of MPs a controversy-free affair, government
plans to go in for an independent mechanism to work out their
salary and allowances.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal told reporters
that the government would explore ways to set up a permanent
independent mechanism for which there was no need for a
constitutional amendment.
Left parties have been demanding for long setting up of
such a mechanism taking the plea that it was wrong that the
MPs should decide on their own pay packets.
"I welcome the suggestion," he merely said when asked
whether MPs, who would now be getting an enhanced pay package,
should be penalised if their actions lead to loss time for
Parliament.
He regretted that the Monsoon session witnessed the Lok
Sabha losing 45 hours and the Rajya Sabha 35 hours due to
disruptions.
Bansal said what is of particular concern was that the
Question Hour could not be taken up for nine days following
uproar created by opposition on various issues.
Observing that Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Rajya
Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari did try to work out some mechanism
for the Question Hour to function, he said that the government
was open to any change. "I hope the two Presiding Officers
succeed in their efforts", he said.
Hitting out at the `mock Parliament` held in the Lok
Sabha chamber recently by some MPs, he said it was one of the
"most unfortunate events taken place in the annuls of
Parliament...I wish it did not happen." He also termed it as a
"slur on Parliament of India".
PTI
