BJP-NDA MPs decide not to take salary for 23 days over no work in Parliament

This money is given to serve the people and if we are not able to do so we have no right to take the people's money, says Ananth Kumar.

Members of Parliament of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance government have decided to not take salary and allowances for 23 days of the Budget session. Union minister Ananth Kumar said that since Parliament hasn’t been functional, the government has no right to take people’s money.

“BJP-NDA MPs have decided to not take salary and allowances for 23 days as Parliament has not been functional. This money is given to serve the people and if we are not able to do so we have no right to take the people's money,” said Ananth Kumar.

He further hit out at the Congress party, "It's because of Congress's undemocratic politics that Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have not been functional. We're ready to talk about all the issues but they are not letting the houses function."

Meanwhile, leaders of at least 15 Opposition parties are slated to hold protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament on Thursday on various issues, including banking scam, SC/ST issue and CBSE Paper leak.

This comes as the Budget session of Parliament is headed for a washout. Apart from the passage of the Union Budget, no major Bill has been cleared during the session.

Among the important bills pending in Parliament during the session are triple talaq bill, Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 and National Medical Commission Bill, 2017.

The government, however, pushed two bills - The Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill and The Specific Relief (Amendment) Bill, for passage amid din with the Lok Sabha passing them with a voice vote without debate.

Since March 5, when Parliament had met after a recess, the Lok Sabha has seen disruptions on a daily basis. Amid the din, the Finance Bill and the appropriation bills were yesterday passed by the House without discussion.

Recently, Ananth Kumar had hit out at the Congress for Parliament impasse, saying, "It seems (Congress leaders) Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi don't believe in democracy. They speak outside (the house) on democracy but don't practice it in Parliament. The Congress(men) doesn't have democracy in their genes."

He had asked other parties to discuss the pending bills constructively.

"We have included all important issues in the list of business. We have also issued a three-line whip to all our MPs. We request all the parties to let the house function and hold constructive discussions," the Minister had said.