Govt considering raising salary/perks of MPs

New Delhi, May 18 (UNI) The Government today said it is planning to revise the salary and perks of MPs by bringing a bill in this regard during the Monsoon session of Parliament.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told reporters here that members of ex-MPs Association and various leaders of political parties leaders have approached him stating that at the time of the last revision of salary and allowances in 2002, it was decided to revise them again in 2006.

''We will examine the issue after the conclusion of this short session and bring the report on the issue in the Monsoon session,'' he said.

He said the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill could not be tabled in session of Parliament as the left parties are opposing it. They want to discuss the clauses of the bill before it was brought in Parliament.

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Finance Minister P Chidambaram would discuss the issue with left leaders to convince them to support the bill, he said.

He expressed satisfaction that the government could get all the three most important bills passed during this short session.

They were the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Bill to stop the ongoing demolition, Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Bill, 2006 to clear the air about the office-of-profit controversy and the Small and Medium Scale Industries and Enterprises Bill which has been passed by the Lok Sabha today and will come up before the Rajya Sabha tomorrow.

He said the Wildlife Amendment Bill has been deferred as the report of the Joint Select Committee on forest and tribal issues is to be tabled and the government wants to first match its recommendations with the clauses of the bill before tabling it.

UNI AJ/KAS PA VC1902