MPs want Re 1 more than babus as salary

Among the many traditions of Parliament, there is one in which members gift themselves a salary hike — whenever it has happened — on the last day of a session.

Among the many traditions of Parliament, there is one in which members gift themselves a salary hike — whenever it has happened — on the last day of a session.

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May 7 is the last day of the current session and a hike is likely.

This one will be a hefty one, if it comes through, nearly doubling their salary from Rs 45,000 a month to at least a rupee more than Rs 80,000.

Why at least Rs 80,001?

“Since the salary of a Secretary is Rs 80,000 per month (with allowances). Our salary should be higher than that even it is by Rs 1,’’ said a Congress member who did not want to be named.

His logic is simple: since MPs outrank a secretary in the government’s Warrant of Precedence (babudom’s pecking order), they should get more than them – even if it is just a rupee more.

Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and RJD’s Lalu Prasad met finance minister Pranab Mukherjee to press the case for a salary hike on Wednesday but were told wait for the report of a Joint Parliamentary Committee on this.