HP Assembly Passes Bill To Stop Defected MLAs' Pension; CM Sukhu Says It Will Strengthen Democracy

The Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed a bill on Wednesday to revoke the benefits of pensions and allowances of those state legislators who have been disqualified under anti-defection law.

The Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Allowances and Pensions) Amendment Bill 2024, was introduced by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. The bill was passed by a voice vote after strong criticism from opposition MLAs, who labelled the amendment as politically motivated and demanded its withdrawal.

Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu justified the amendment, stating, "The MLAs who have been disqualified by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly will be excluded from pensions and allowances. This will strengthen democracy. It will be a significant lesson for those who betray their party for political gain and switch allegiances. They will think a hundred times before changing the party."

CM Sukhu further asserted that this will curb the people violating the anti-defection law.

This amendment has significant consequences for six Congress MLAs who were disqualified on 28 February for violating the party whip in the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly.

The disqualified MLAs include Rajendra Rana from Sujanpur, Sudhir Sharma from Dharamshala, Indradutt Lakhanpal from Barsar, Ravi Thakur from Lahaul Spiti, Devendra Kumar Bhutto from Kutlehad, and Chaitanya Sharma from Gagret.

The bill will have a particularly profound impact on Devendra Bhutto and Chaitanya Sharma, who were first-time MLAs. The other four disqualified MLAs have previously held office, and two of them have since regained their seats after winning by-elections as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates.

Further speaking on the financial situation in the state, CM Sukhvinder Sukhu said the state employees will get their due salary today.

"They will get the salary tomorrow. It was a financial prudence, a financial discipline. The public has to be told that when we give you the salary five days before, we do that by taking a loan at an interest rate of 7.5 percent at an expense of Rs 3 crores monthly for those 5 days. So, it has to be streamlined. So, our government is working towards this for financial reforms with an intent to streamline. When we came to power, there was an economic crisis, and we brought it under control, and rapid improvements are taking place. Economy has improved by 20 percent as compared to last year," he said. (ANI)