Kathmandu, November 22
After the Prachanda-led government hiked lawmakers’ pay and perks, student unions affiliated to different political parties are preparing to launch a movement against the hike. They are holding a joint meeting at the central office of the CPN-UML-aligned ANNFSU in Bagbazaar on Thursday to work out the modality of their protest.
“Lawmakers should not focus only on their prosperity at a time when people have nothing to eat,” ANNFSU Chair Nabina Lama told Onlinekhabar. No matter what, lawmakers should not get the hike at this moment.
Lama said their movement will continue unless and util the government reviews the pay hike decision.
Surendra Basnet, spokesperson, ANNISU-R, which is close to the ruling CPN-Maoist Centre, said lawmakers have lost their morality by deciding to hike their pay and perks on their own. He told Onlinekhabar: We will launch a movement as lawmakers are trying to lead a luxurious life while earthquake victims do not even have safe shelters.
By hiking their pay and perks on the basis of profit and loss, lawmakers have lost their morality, Basnet said, adding that politics is not only gains but sacrifice as well.
On Sunday, the Parliament passed a Bill on Pay and Perks for Office-bearers and Members of the Federal Parliament with amendment. This means each lawmaker will get a monthly severance package of more than one lakh rupees. The hike takes effect from mid-July, 2016.
Lawmakers have come under fire from different walks of life for hiking pay and perks on their own on priority basis at the expense of several other issues.
