Ministers differ, salary hike on hold

MPs will have to wait for their salary hike. The Cabinet put off a decision on a proposed three-fold increase due to differences in the timing of the salary hike. HT reports. See cartoon

MPs will have to wait for their salary hike. The Cabinet put off a decision on a proposed three-fold increase due to differences in the timing of the salary hike.

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At the cabinet meet, Home Minister P Chidambaram, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni and Overseas Minister Vayalar Ravi opposed the move on the ground that it would be improper to raise the salaries at the moment as inflation was already high.

The dissenting ministers also referred to the farmers' suicide and allegations of corruption in Commonwealth Games while making the point that the hiking the salaries of MPs in these circumstances would be seen in the bad light, sources said.

However, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, whose ministry has cleared the proposal, supported the hike.

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