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Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Withdraws Ministers’ Salary Bills
The Jammu and Kashmir government had proposed changes to laws about the salaries of ministers and legislators.
Some BJP members objected to the proposals.
They said the government should help daily-wage and contract workers instead.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he did not support raising salaries unless everyone agreed.
He asked the Assembly to withdraw the two bills.
The Assembly approved their withdrawal by voice vote.
Members also discussed pensions for former legislators.
That pension-related bill was passed.
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly withdrew two bills proposing amendments to ministers’ and legislators’ salary laws.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he did not favor salary increases unless the bills received unanimous support.
BJP leader Sham Lal Sharma urged the government to prioritize relief for daily wagers and contractual employees.
The bills were withdrawn by voice vote, although BJP members did not vote in favor of the withdrawal.
The Assembly introduced and passed an amendment to the Jammu and Kashmir State Legislature Members’ Pension Act, 1984.
- Who
- Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Assembly members, and BJP legislators, including Sham Lal Sharma.
- What
- The Assembly withdrew two salary-related bills and passed a bill amending the legislators’ pension law.
- Where
- The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
- When
- The report is dated September 29 and describes proceedings held on Monday and Tuesday.
- Why
- The salary bills lacked unanimous support, while members said the pension bill concerned retired legislators.
Government and Assembly Supporters
BJP Critics
Minister and legislator salaries
Government and Assembly Supporters
Omar Abdullah said he did not favor salary increases and would only press the bills if they were passed unanimously; he therefore sought their withdrawal.
BJP Critics
BJP members opposed the salary proposals and argued that government attention should instead focus on daily wagers and contractual employees.
Support for workers
Government and Assembly Supporters
Abdullah questioned why BJP legislators had not recorded dissent during the committee’s examination of salary increases or acted earlier on behalf of daily wagers.
BJP Critics
Sham Lal Sharma said relief for daily wagers and contractual employees should take precedence over changes to lawmakers’ salaries.
Legislators’ pensions
Government and Assembly Supporters
Members from both treasury and opposition benches supported retaining and passing the pension amendment because it affected retired legislators.
BJP Critics
The articles do not report a substantive BJP objection to the pension bill; the bill passed by voice vote.
Key facts
- Withdrawn bills
- Amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Ministers and Ministers of State Salaries Act, 1956, and the Salaries and Allowances of Members of the Jammu and Kashmir State Legislature Act, 1960.
- Chief minister’s position
- Omar Abdullah said he was not in favor of increasing salaries and would not press the bills without unanimous approval.
- BJP objection
- Sham Lal Sharma said priority should be given to daily wagers and contractual employees.
- Withdrawal method
- The two salary bills were withdrawn by voice vote.
- Pension legislation
- An amendment to the Jammu and Kashmir State Legislature Members’ Pension Act, 1984, was introduced and passed.
- Assembly response
- National Conference members criticized BJP legislators for not voting in favor of the withdrawal.
Quotes
Omar Abdullah
Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
“It will now be easy for me to go home as I have a pensioner at home. We all will be pensioned some day.”
theprint.in
“I told my colleagues that until these bills are passed unanimously, I will not press for them.”
theprint.in
Sources
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