Vijayapura: Expressing anguish over the BJP Government for not taking any action to hike the honorarium of the Gram Panchayat members on four occasions, Congress MLC Sunilgouda Patil has made it clear that as mark of protest, he would not take the hikes salary of MLC by the Government till the Government meets his demand.
“I have decided not to take the hiked salary till the Government meets our demand”, he said.
Addressing mediapersons here on Monday February 28, he said that he has raised the issue on four different occasions in the past during Assembly sessions. But so far, the Government has not taken any positive action, he said. “On the contrary, in its response to my question, the government said that since the government is facing financial constraints, it is not possible to hike the honorarium of the GP members. My contention is that, if the Government had no money for GP members, then where did it get money for hiking the salaries and other perks for the MLAs and MLCs, l” he wondered.
He said that he has been demanding the Government to increase the honorarium of GP President to Rs. 5000, Rs. 4000 to Vice president and Rs. 3000 to members. Besides this, he has also urged to give free bus passes to travel within the District for any government work.
Accusing the BJP State President MP Nalin Kumar Kateel of lying to the people only to garner votes during the recent MLC polls, Sunilgouda said that during the campaign Kateel had promised that the BJP govern6ment would hike the honorarium of GP members by Rs. 10,000. He had also promised to implement the Kerala model while giving benefits to GP members. “Leave alone implementing the Kerala model which even gives government vehicles to the GP pres6ident, the Government has not even announced a hike in salary by Rs. 5000. That means whatever promises made were only a political gimmick nothing else,” he charged.
Replying to a question, he claimed that already three MLCs of local body constituency have joined hands with him and hoped that more members will come together in exerting pressure on the Government in this matter.
Sunilgouda said that his fight to get his demand met and help over 93,000 GP members will continue in coming days too.
