J&K Assembly passes pension hike for ex-legislators amid uproar

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Tuesday approved a Bill raising the pension of former legislators by Rs 10,000, providing a brief lighter moment during proceedings otherwise marked by noisy protests over a statehood resolution.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who moved the legislation, remarked that it would now be easier for him to return home. His father, former chief minister Farooq Abdullah, watched from the VIP gallery and laughed while pointing at himself. Legislators across the House, including opposition BJP members who did not object to the pension increase, joined in the laughter. The Chief Minister noted that he had a former MLA at home.

The day had begun tensely. As soon as the House convened, BJP leaders stood and raised slogans against the resolution seeking restoration of statehood that had been passed by voice vote on Monday. They directed their protest at Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, demanding that he relinquish the chair. National Conference members responded with counter-slogans against the opposition party.

When BJP legislator Sham Lal Sharma argued with the Speaker, Rather, a seven-time legislator, retorted that he knew the law and did not need to be taught it. As the Speaker announced the start of Question Hour, BJP legislators walked out while raising slogans.

Later, the Chief Minister moved a resolution for a salary hike for legislators, and a separate bill for the pension increase. A panel of legislators had recommended raising salaries from Rs 1.8 lakh to Rs 3 lakh along with allowances, telephone bills and house loans, but the bill proposed an increase of only Rs 35,000.

BJP legislators opposed the salary increase, saying they did not want any raise and citing public anger over unresolved issues of daily wagers and unemployment. Omar Abdullah said he would withdraw the bill, stating that he had been against the hike but had faced demands from both sides. He added that the measure would proceed only if all legislators voted for it, and that a single opposing vote would stop him from moving it. Since the BJP had opposed it, he was withdrawing the Bill.

In another exchange, when the Chief Minister responded to a question from BJP legislator Devyani Rana, she stood to ask a supplementary question but instead attempted to make a speech. National Conference legislators and the Speaker objected, and the Speaker called on another member to ask a question. Omar Abdullah intervened, saying the BJP legislator was new and unfamiliar with House rules, and expressed hope that senior BJP leaders would teach her the rules. Devyani Rana's father, Devendar Singh Rana, was formerly a close aide of Omar Abdullah before joining the BJP.