Jharkhand MLAs Demand Debate on ED Summons, Budget Tabled

Jharkhand Assembly’s winter session sees supplementary budget and salary hike proposals amidst BJP protests and demands for discussion on ED summons.

RANCHI – The Jharkhand Assembly’s winter session, now in its third day, was marked by significant developments including the presentation of the supplementary budget and recommendations for pay increases for the Chief Minister and cabinet.

The special committee proposed a 25% increase in the Chief Minister’s compensation and a 31% hike for other ministers.

The committee, convened by BJP MLA Ramchandra Chandravanshi, reviewed the salaries and benefits of key assembly positions, suggesting an increase in the Chief Minister’s pay from Rs 80,000 to Rs 1 lakh.

Ministers, ministers of state, and deputy ministers are recommended to receive Rs 85,000 per month, up from Rs 65,000.

Additionally, the committee proposed raising the Speaker’s salary to Rs 98,000 and the Deputy Speaker’s to Rs 75,000.

The opposition leader’s pay was recommended to be increased to Rs 85,000, while the Chief Whip and Whip’s salaries were suggested to be raised to Rs 75,000 and Rs 60,000, respectively.

Amidst these discussions, the second supplementary budget of Rs 8,111.75 crore for 2023-24 was tabled, facing protests from BJP lawmakers.

The opposition, led by BJP top whip Biranchi Narayan, called for a debate on issues including Congress Rajya Sabha MP Dhiraj Sahu’s unaccounted cash and ED summons to Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

Opposition Leader Amar Bauri emphasized the importance of addressing law and order concerns and the Chief Minister’s response to the ED’s summons.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Alamgir Alam responded by stating that Sahu’s case is not related to the state assembly, and reassured that the Chief Minister is responding to the ED summons.

Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto urged members to focus on state assembly matters, as the session progressed amidst heated discussions.