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Austerity talk all gas, MPs set to fly high
In the season of austerity, a bill to provide free air travel to companions and relatives of ministers, in addition to their family members, was passed in the Lok Sabha on Friday without any discussion.
In the season of austerity, a bill to provide free air travel to companions and relatives of ministers, in addition to their family members, was passed in the Lok Sabha on Friday without any discussion.
Amid pandemonium over the Telangana issue, the Salaries and Allowances of Ministers (Amendment) Bill 2009 was passed along with four other bills in five minutes while two more were introduced.
Barring the TDP, the entire opposition and even the RJD, SP and BSP — which have extended support to the UPA government — staged a walk-out, protesting at the way the legislative business was rushed through in the house.
The bill entitles ministers to take along “any number of companions or relatives” by air at same rates at which travelling allowances were payable to them and their family. This brings the ministers at par with facilities given to MPs.
The statement of objects and reasons of the bill said it proposed to end the discrepancy between ministers and MPs and allows the spouse or legitimate or step children, as also the minister’s companions or relatives, to travel on their own with the minister.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi described the bill as a measure of equivalence.
But not everyone seems to be in agreement. “There is no cap on minister’s air travels on official trip. And they make even their trips to their constituencies as part of the official trips. So, where was the need for the bill,” said CPM leader Basudeb Acharya.
After passing the bills, the Lok Sabha, scheduled to last till Monday, adjourned sine die. Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar expressed unhappiness over frequent disruptions caused by members.
She said the tendency to disrupt proceedings was “tragic”.
