NDA MPs to protest against Parliament disruption, give up salaries

New Delhi : In a new way to protest against disruptions in the Parliament, the NDA MPs have decided to give up their 23-day salaries of the ongoing budget session when the Parliament did not function because of protests by the opposition.

The parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar blamed Congress and other opposition parties for logjam in both the houses, leading to 'criminal wastage' of the taxpayer's money.

"We discussed the issue with the prime minister, the BJP president and other NDA constituents and decided to give up the salary of 23 days of the part II of the Budget session. The money is given to us to serve the people. Since no issues of public interest were discussed and no legislative business could be transacted, we are returning the money back to the people," Kumar said at a hurriedly-convened press conference.

He claimed that Congress is the principal opposition party but it has not been playing its role properly.

"Notices of no confidence motion (against the government) were first brought by the YSR Congress, TDP and now the Congress.

When we are ready to discuss the motion and issues such as banking fraud, why don't they let the house function," he said.

The second part of budget session started on March 5 and will end on Friday.