UP assembly honours ex-MLAs; CM announces hike in benefits

Lucknow, Aug 30 (UNI) Amid boycott by BJP and BSP members and non-participation of Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), the major ally of the Mulayam Singh Yadav government, Uttar Pradesh assembly today honoured all former MLAs in the state.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister announced a hike in the rail coupon of ex-MLAs to Rs 50,000 per year from the existing Rs 30,000, apart from a discount of 50 per cent in the state guest house.

Mr Yadav also announced setting up of a committee to recommend hike in pension of ex-MLAs, besides assuring that the government would provide all necessary financial alm to those needing medical treatment.

The CM announced an ex-gratia of Rs one lakh to a former MLA, who now runs a tea stall in Bahraich.

The function was marred by controversy after the BJP officially announced it would boycott the function, and was followed by the BSP. They termed the function as misuse of government funds and an effort to provide sops to political leaders before the assembly polls. No leader of the RLD was also present in the function.

Congress legislature party leader Pramod Tiwari, who appreciated the government for this function, criticised the parties opposing such events, which is only to honour the ex-MLAs.

Assembly speaker Mata Prasad Pandey, in his welcome address, said it was a rare achievement to honour the former MLAs, who had held democratic values. Altogether, 2,238 ex-MLAs were to be felicitated in the function, but only about 1,500 turned up.

All the ex-MLAs were presented a photo of the assembly building.

Earlier on August 25, the state assembly honoured 15 surviving ex-MLAs of the first assembly (1952-57), which included Uttaranachal CM Narain Dutt Tiwari.

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