Ruckus in House over calendar

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 23

On Friday, the house erupted after the Congress MLAs objected to the calendar released by the culture department that had listed several names of RSS ideologues as people who were a source of inspiration.

Uttarakhand Leader of Opposition Indira Hridayesh, while raising the issue on the floor of the house, said, “The calendar has listed all the names of RSS idealogues, their birth dates. It appears to be a BJP calendar rather than the Department of Culture calendar. Nehru ji remained in jail for 16 years is he not the real leader,” she said. 

The Congress had given notice under 310 to the Speaker seeking discussion.

However, Uttarakhand Minister for Culture Satpal Maharaj later clarified that the calendar besides listing the names of RSS and BJP idealogues also mentioned other names. “They did not care to turn the pages of the calendar. We have listed the names of Indiraji and Ambedkar ji also,” he said.

Significantly, the question hour that ran for one hour and twenty mintues first time took up several short notices and starred questions as well.

On the other hand, the Uttarakhand government is planning to hike the allowances and pensions being paid to the sitting and former Uttarakhand MLAs. 

A committee constituted by the government to look into the issue presented its report before the House.

According to government sources, the hike is expected be in the range of of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 50, 000.

As of now the MLAs receive Rs 1.57 lakh as allowances and after the proposed hike their allowances are expected to shoot up to Rs 2.5 lakh. Significantly, Chief Minister TS Rawat too is in favour of increasing the allowances and salaries of MLAs.

MLAs’ pay hike 

• The Uttarakhand government is planning to hike the allowances and pensions being paid to the sitting and former Uttarakhand MLAs. 
• A committee constituted by the government to look into the issue presented its report before the House.
• According to government sources, the hike is expected be in the range of of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 50, 000.