PM Modi May Quash MPs’ Dreams of 100 Percent Salary Hike

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) talks to media upon his arrival at the parliament house with Indian Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi, India, Monday, April 25, 2016. Photo: AP/Manish Swarup)

Parliamentarians pushing for a 100 percent hike in their salaries may be in for some disappointment. Government sources say that Prime Minister Modi stated position is against MPs deciding their own salaries, reports The Times of India.

But sources were also quick to point out that the PM’s take on the current round of recommendations is not known.

In the past, Modi has supported salary hikes for MPs for people holding other posts, like the President and Vice-President or cabinet secretary.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. (Photo: PTI)

A Parliamentary panel proposal to double MPs pay is currently waiting for approval from the PMO.

The Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament, headed by Gorakhpur MP and BJP leader Yogi Adityanath had proposed a 100 percent pay hike for MPs as well as an increase in constituency allowance and secretarial assistance. The proposition also included raising the pensions paid to former MPs from Rs 20,000 to Rs 35,000.

The suggested changes were submitted to the PMO on 28 April after being approved by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

Inflation affects everyone, MPs are also hit.

Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of Oppostion

According to The Economic Times, the last salary hike for MPs was in 2010 when most MPs said the process should be made time bound as is done in appointment of pay panels for government staff.