Congress MLA returns salary, others not willing to follow suit

New Delhi: Congress MLA Devendra Yadav has returned his five-month salary to the chief secretary but other Congress MLAs may not follow suit, saying they were working round the clock since becoming public representatives.

Yadav, MLA from Badli constituency, returned an amount of Rs 2,67,495 through Lt Governor Najeeb Jung a few days after Supreme Court`s observation that Delhi`s MLAs were getting salaries without working since the suspension of the assembly. Yadav has, however, kept Rs 5 with him as salary for five months. On the other hand, other Congress MLAs say that since they have become an MLA, they have been working for the public round the clock and not sitting idle. "I have not taken a single holiday from my work. MLA`s work is not for just 8 hours, instead we work for 24 hours. I do not agree with Devendra`s decision to return his salary. Through his stand, the public will get the impression that MLAs are not working," Asif Mohammad, an MLA from Okhla, said. Mohammad also said that he has a staff of ten people helping him serve the people of his constituency. Another Congress MLA and CLP leader Haroon Yusuf said that he would discuss with DPCC chief Arvinder Singh Lovely on this matter, though, he said that MLAs are not sitting idle. "We are not sitting idle. It is the responsibility of the MLAs to work for public`s welfare," Yusuf said. Asked if he would follow Yadav, he said, "He is now out of the city and will we will soon be discussing this issue with DPCC chief. I will take a decision after that."