Pranab meets BJP, RJD, SP leaders on MPs` salary issue

New Delhi, Aug 21 (PTI) After uproar over MPs salary
hike and passage of Indian Medical Council bill without
debate, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday held a
meeting with the leaders of BJP, RJD and SP and assured them
that their concerns would be addressed.
The meeting was attended by Leader of the Opposition in
Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Indian Parliament) Arun Jaitley,
Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, Rashtriya
Janta Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad and Janta Dal (United)
JD(U) president Sharad Yadav who pressed for hike in the
salaries of MPs to Rs 80,001 as they were not satisfied with
Rs 50,000 approved by the Cabinet on Friday.
They also said that the Medical Council bill should have
been taken up for voting only after a discussion.
"Our demand was that discussion should be held on MCI
bill. The Government has agreed to hold discussion in the
House under rule 193 (which does not entail voting),"
Bharatiya Janta Party's Deputy Leader Gopinath Munde told
reporters later.
Members of Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP)and some other
parties vociferously protested against the passage of the
Medical Council bill in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian
Parliament) Friday without debate amid din over MPs' salary
hike.
After the House was adjourned in the wake of uproar,
several members of BJP, RJD and SP staged a 'mock' sitting of
the Lok Sabha in which Munde became the Speaker and Lalu
Prasad became the Prime Minister.
On the issue of MPs' salary, Munde said the matter has
been left to Pranab Mukherjee.
"Whatever decision he (Mukherjee) takes after holding
discussions...he will also hold deliberations with others," he
said.
The Cabinet had given its nod to increase basic salaries
of the lawmakers from Rs 16,000 to Rs 50,000 per month.
However, unhappy with the quantum of hike, parties like
Rashtriya Janta Dal, Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena, Akali Dal
protested in the House disrupting proceedings. (MORE) PTI