Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, Sep 29
The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Tuesday withdrew two bills proposing changes to the salaries of ministers and legislators after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he would not press for them without unanimous support.
The bills sought amendments to laws governing the salaries of ministers and ministers of state and the salaries and allowances of members of the legislature.
The BJP opposed the proposals, with MLA Sham Lal Sharma saying the government should instead focus on relief for daily-wage and contractual workers.
Omar said he was not in favour of increasing salaries and that the proposal had followed a demand from the BJP.
“I will not allow any politics over the Bill,” he told the House, adding that he had told colleagues he would not press for the measures unless they were passed unanimously.
The Speaker subsequently put the bills to a vote, and they were withdrawn.
The House later considered a separate bill amending the Jammu and Kashmir State Legislature Members’ Pension Act, 1984.
Omar initially sought its withdrawal, but members from both treasury and opposition benches argued that the measure concerned former legislators rather than sitting members.
The Chief Minister then introduced the bill, saying all legislators would eventually become pensioners.
The House passed the pension amendment by voice vote.
