Srinagar, September 29: Two bills proposing changes to the salaries and allowances of ministers and legislators in Jammu and Kashmir were withdrawn by the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he was not in favour of increasing their pay without unanimous support.
The development followed objections raised by BJP legislators over the proposed amendments.
BJP leader Sham Lal Sharma opposed the bills and said the government should focus instead on providing relief to daily wagers and contractual employees.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he had already told his colleagues that he would not push the bills unless they received unanimous support from the House.
The Speaker subsequently put the bills to a vote, following which both were withdrawn. BJP members did not support the withdrawal during the voice vote, drawing objections from National Conference legislators.
Meanwhile, a separate bill seeking amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir State Legislature Members’ Pension Act, 1984, was introduced and passed by voice vote.
Although the chief minister had initially suggested withdrawing the pension-related bill as well, members from both the treasury and opposition benches argued that it should remain because it concerned former legislators and their pension benefits.
While introducing the bill, Abdullah remarked that all legislators would eventually become pensioners, adding that it would be easier for him to return home as he already had a pensioner in his family.
