New Delhi: The call by the BJP for the NDA lawmakers to forgo their salary for 23 days of the ongoing budget session during which the House did not function due to their disruptions, received a very bold reply from its biggest ally, Shiv Sena. The party replied back with the comment that it is “not on the same page” with the BJP.
According to the announcement made by Ananth Kumar, 400 lawmakers from the NDA ruling alliance would forego Rs. 3.66 crore as salary and put the blame for the near washout of the second half of the budget session on the Congress party. The session is going to end tomorrow.
Before the announcement the Shiv Sena party was not approached for any consultations over the forgoing of salary and allowances, Shiv Sena Arvind Sawant told the News Reporters.
He said that the Shiv Sena party is “not on the same page” with the BJP over the issue, he said.
“They did not consult us before taking the decision. They only remember the NDA when there are presidential and vice-presidential polls,” Mr Sawant said.
The Shiv Sena is the second largest constituent of the ruling NDA at the Centre, and hence the biggest ally with 18 lawmakers.
“This is not the question of salary. We, as MPs, have been doing our work. Even if Parliament was not functioning, we have held meetings with ministries to address the problems faced by our people,” he said.
Talking about the protests made by the AIADMK over constitution of Cauvery River Water Management Board in the Lok Sabha, Sawant said that the Speaker did not use any type of strong words or rebuke the demonstrating lawmakers from Tamil Nadu.
“We feel that the government did not want the House to function and (the upcoming) Karnataka polls was the reason behind it,” the Shiv Sena lawmaker said.
He alleged that despite the fact that the Supreme Court‘s order to form the Cauvery River Water Management Board the Centre did not take any action with the view of losing prospects in Karnataka Assembly elections.
The alliance by the BJP with Shiv Sena seems to be in trouble, as an uneasy relationship grows, despite walking side by side both at the Centre as well as in the State. The party has been a high critical of the policies of the Centre as well as the State.
There was no business transaction in the Parliament over the last 22 days. The second part of the session is scheduled to end on Friday.
A very important bill like Finance Bill was cleared in the Lok Sabha without holding any discussion.
Apart from that, a no-trust motion was also moved against the government in the Lok Sabha by many opposition parties, which were not taken up.
You May Also Read: Shiv Sena MP Accuses Centre Of Disrupting Parliament For Karnataka Polls