Rude shocks for Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi was in a rude shock when the Narendra Modi government withdrew the Special Protection Group (SPG) from Gandhi’s family. Mother Sonia, sister Priyanka, and Rahul Gandhi were deprived of 35-year-long special status. SPG meant that the three Gandhis got special bulletproof vehicles, free of spacious government bungalow due to SPG as these three Gandhis were under severe threat from many militant groups. Now the second shock was losing an MP, from the Wayanad constituency.
Why did Rahul Gandhi lose his MP seat?
Due to his motor mouth. It appears that he is not politician material. Having observed his attitude, he is a spoiled youth. By his nonpolitical advisors and misleading friends. Rahul Gandhi had travelled 248 times on foreign tours. No one knows the details of his itinerary only his 6 passport booklets will reveal that secret. Should not he as a campaigner for the right to information reveal his tour schedules?
If you talk more you land into trouble. It is so glaring that since 2014, there were hundreds of illustrations that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been talking out of turn. Like RSS, Surrender Modi, two India, I am not to apologize, My name is not Savarkar. Losing his membership in the Lok Sabha comes alongside the loss of the many amenities that MPs receive.
Members of Parliament are entitled to certain perks and benefits with “a view to enabling them to function effectively”. These are governed by the salary, allowances, and pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954 and the rules made thereunder. The latest amendment to the Act was made on May 11, 2022.
Some of these perks and benefits are as follows. These facts and figures were taken out from the official publication of the Parliament of India. All are available on the Lok Sabha website.
Salary and allowance for ‘residence on duty’
An MP is entitled to a salary of Rs.1 lakh a month and an allowance of Rs.2,000 per day during any period of residence on duty. ‘Period of residence on duty’ means the period during which a member resides at a place where a session of a House of Parliament or a sitting of a Committee is held or where any other business connected with his duties as a such member is transacted, to attend the such session or sit or for the purpose of attending to such other business.
MPs’ salaries and daily allowance are increased every five years, based on the Cost Inflation Index.
Travelling allowance and free rail transit
MPs also get a travel allowance to facilitate any journeys they undertake in connection with their duties as a member of Parliament. They get paid the air fare for any journey they may undertake to fulfill their duties. If they travel by road, they get paid a mileage fee of Rs.16 per kilometre.
While previously, MPs were also paid rail fare if they chose to travel by rail, now they are given a free, non-transferable pass that entitles them to travel at any time by any train in air-conditioned first class or executive class of any train. This pass is valid for the term of the MP’s office. If they have not received a rail pass, MPs are still entitled to free travel by rail, with their fare reimbursed.
There are also provisions to allow MPs free transit by steamer. This is relevant for MPs of the coastal, island, or riverine districts.
Constituency allowance
A member shall be entitled to receive the constituency allowance of Rs.75,000 per month.
Office expenses allowance
A total of Rs.60,000 is allotted to an MP per month to take care of their office expenses. Of this, Rs.20,000 is for stationery items and postage, with the Lok Sabha Secretariat paying Rs.40,000 per month to any staffer engaged in obtaining secretarial assistance.
Housing and other related allowances
Each Member shall be entitled, without payment, to housing accommodation in the form of a flat throughout his term of office. If they are allotted a bungalow, they have to pay a normal license fee. They are also entitled to free electricity (up to 50,000 units per annum) and free water (up to 4,000-kilo litres per annum).
MPs are also to certain furniture and there are provisions for additional services (such as staff attached to an MP’s residence) and periodic maintenance as well.
Telephone charges
MPs are entitled to free-of-cost installation and operation of telephones at their Delhi residence and office, as well as their residence and office in the state which they represent. They have to make no payment for the first 50,000 local calls made from the telephone during any year.
Furthermore, MPs are entitled to avail of one mobile phone connection of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) with a national roaming facility and another mobile phone connection of MTNL or Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) with a national roaming facility for utilization in his constituency and no charges shall be payable by him in respect of the registration and rental of such mobile phone connections.
Medical services
After a monthly payment of Rs.500 (which is deducted from a member’s salary), MPs are entitled to free medical care for themselves and their family.
Note:
1. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
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