Proposal to hike MLAs’ salaries condemned

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, December 17

The state government’s proposal to hike the salary of the MLAs has not gone well with the people of the state. Be it businessmen, farmers, teachers or common man, all have opposed this move, saying, “When it comes to development, the coffers of the state are empty then how the government can afford the hike in MLAs salaries.

Rashpal Singh, an industrialist, said: “The industries in the state have vanished out. The industrialist had been waiting for their VAT refund since long but to no avail.”

“They have also imposed professional tax on the salaried class and increased the power tariff, saying Punjab has no money than how can the government keep forward this baseless proposal,” he added.

Harvinder Singh, a contractual teacher, said: “The SSA/RMSA teachers’ salaries have been brought down to Rs 15,300 from Rs 42,000, saying if one has to be government employee he/she has to accept the offer.”

A city resident, Dr Yash Mitra, said: “The state government should reduce its expenditure if it wants to take the Punjab ahead. The state government should fulfil the promises it had made to the people before the elections. New welfare schemes should be introduced. The MLAs are already getting hefty salaries and other perks.”

“During the elections, Congress leaders claimed that they would reduce the power tariff and provide benefits to people. But after coming to power, they have imposed more taxes, brought proposals for purchasing luxury cars and now increasing the salaries of the MLAs,” he added.