Gift for Delhi MLAs
This refers to the report “Panel proposes 316% rise in salaries for Delhi MLAs” (October 7). According to the report, the speaker of the Delhi Assembly had appointed an ‘expert committee’ which has recommended a hike of 316 per cent in salaries for Delhi MLAs—the rise being from ~12,000 to ~50,000 per month, apart from suggesting ‘suitable’ upgradation in their other allowances too. The report also reveals their salary and allowances were last revised by 100 per cent in 2011 when Congress’ Sheila Dikshit was in the saddle.
It is a different matter that the Delhi Congress Committee chief Ajay Maken has now termed it ‘unfortunate’ for a propoor Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to seek a 400 per cent hike for its all-powerful MLAs. Let us remember that the AAP has 67 MLAs in a 70-member house where the BJP has an insignificant three while the Congress party has none. So the reason for his complain is easy to see.
This unprecedented hike might come in handy and might facilitate a suitable rise in the pay and allowances of MPs who too are seeking the same and the government is trying to take the same technical route—of constituting a panel—for the purpose.
However, the moot question is: Who will foot the astronomically high wage bill now? How come the wishes of our political masters are so easily granted while some others have to struggle for their Apropos the report, “Nayantara Sehgal returns Sahitya award, protests rising intolerance” (October 6), kudos to the 88year old author for returning the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in protest against what she called the ‘vanishing space’ for diversity. The serial assassination of free thinkers and rationalists like Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and Kalburgi has exposed a violent trend in the society. The so-called love-jihads, the attack on churches have already sparked off riots in Uttar Pradesh, parts of Delhi and other regions. The lynching incident in Bisara village on the suspicion of beef consumption has stoked communal fires once again just before the Bihar Assembly polls. Most politicians Democracy does not limit itself to just ruling by elected leaders as representatives of people. True democracy is far beyond this definition. Some elected representatives of people in India tend to behave in a manner that makes us wonder whether we live in a democratic regime or not. Coining popular phrases and impressing the media will not be enough; leaders have to understand they are leaders of the people, for the people and accommodate viewpoints of the masses. A more important role is to be played by us, the citizens, in the form of active political participation—because the success or the failure of a democracy primarily depends on its citizens.
Shweta Sharma Kolkata