Shimla: Ever since the Himachal Pradesh legislators enacted a law to gift themselves a hefty pay hike, the issue has been hotly debated and criticized about keepers of the treasury turning to if to fill their own chests. Having been chief minister for two terms, opposition leader Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal has mooted the idea of having a commission for salaries of MLA’s but veteran chief minister Virbhadra Singh dismissed it as playing to the gallery.
Neither Mr Dhumal nor any BJP Legislator uttered a word of opposition inside the house when the bill was taken up, now he is making it an issue for public consumption, Mr. Virbhadra Singh told media persons who questioned the exorbitant pay hike for MLAs.
Mr. Dhumal publically has opposed the MLAs salaries hike as not a good idea, especially when the state is facing a major financial crisis. He suggested that in place of MLAs deciding their own salaries, a commission should be appointed for the same.
Mr Virbhadra Singh rubbished the suggestion saying , “Mr Dhumal was present at the time when Bill regarding salary increment was proposed and passed in the assembly. Then he agreed without any hesitation. Now, how is it that the leader of opposition and BJP MLAs have had this sudden change of heart to oppose the decision.”
When questioned about his future in Himachal politics, the octogenarian leader said that he had served the people of the state for a very long time, but if given chance by Congress high command then he will contest the 2017 assembly election, once again.
……..a rookie journalist
