The government rejected the demand for old pension raised in the assembly, SP’s walkout
Lucknow (IANS). On the third day of the monsoon session of the Uttar Pradesh Legislature, the issue of restoration of old pension echoed in the House. Members of the Samajwadi Party demanded implementation of the scheme to cover all state employees with old pension during the Question Hour.
The government rejected the plan to give old pension. Expressing dissatisfaction with the reply of the Finance Minister, SP members staged a walkout.
Finance Minister Suresh Khanna replied regarding the new pension scheme. He said that the employees will get more benefit from the new pension scheme than the old pension.
He said that the government has also given a big relief to the employees in the New Pension Scheme (NPS). There is no idea of implementing old pension.
He said that the new pension scheme will benefit the employees more. 5 lakh 59 thousand government employees have started taking benefits of the new pension scheme.
There are more than 3 lakh non-government employees. There is more benefit in the new pension scheme. Hence it was implemented. Our government was not there when the new pension was implemented. We spend about 59 per cent of the total revenue on salaries and pensions. Most of the states are implementing new pension. This scheme is in the interest of the employees. So there is no plan to change it.
During the Question Hour, SP’s Abhay Singh raised the issue of abolition of GST on agricultural machinery.
On this, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said that GST is not the subject of the state government. This topic should be raised in the meeting of GST itself. From the state level, the government is providing whatever facilities it can provide to the farmers. The interest of the farmers is included in the priorities of the government.
Samajwadi Party member Dr. RK Verma said that there should be a discussion on environment at least one day during the proceedings of the House.
In response, Forest and Environment Minister Dr. Arun Kumar Saxena said that the government is completely serious about environmental protection. Recently, the state government planted trees on a large scale. The environment can be balanced through trees and plants.
In Prashna Prahar, Devendra Pratap Singh of Samajwadi Party demanded that MLA fund should be exempted from GST. On which Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said that there is no GST on MLA fund.
Iqbal Mehmood of the Samajwadi Party in the zero hour on Tuesday raised an objection in the House by Sugarcane Development Minister Lakshmi Narayan Chaudhary over any comment about the former Prime Minister and demanded that he be removed from the proceedings of the House.
On this, Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana said that Chaudhary Saheb was the messiah of the farmers, he cannot be tied to the limits of any party. He assured that if something is indecent or objectionable, it will be removed from the proceedings.
However, before this, Sugarcane Minister Lakshmi Narayan said that he did not say anything about Chaudhary Saheb, who is being made an issue here. He said that he has left from Chaudhary Saheb’s nursery. He is the only minister whose picture of Chaudhary Saheb is displayed in his office and house. It is unthinkable to disrespect them.
The members gave their suggestions regarding the amendment in the new operating rules of the Vidhansabha. Before the suggestions of the members came on this, Speaker Satish Mahana said that simplification has been done in the new rules.
He said that the suggestions of the members on amendment of the new rules will be accepted for consideration.
SP member Lalji Verma said that there should be a provision in the rules that for the strength of democracy, the proceedings of the House must go on for at least ninety days in a year. The longer the House runs, the more issues of the public can be raised.
He termed the decision of the Speaker to frame new rules as historic.
Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra Mona said that amendment in the new rules after six decades is definitely a historic decision. He suggested that a steering committee should be formed for the bills etc. that come in the House.
The leader of the BSP Legislature Party said that the new manual is definitely a historic step. Referring to the suggestions kept by other members, he said that certainly this decision of the Speaker is welcome.
Ajay Kumar of Rashtriya Lok Dal said that the duration of the budget session should be increased in the new rules. There should also be a provision that the duration of the questions should be extended.
BJP MLA Manvendra Singh proposed to include making phone conversations with MLAs viral on social media as breach of privilege.
The legislators suggested to extend the proceedings of the House for more days and increase the time of Question Hour from one hour and 20 minutes to two hours.
SP member Dr. Ragini said that the question hour should be extended.
A similar suggestion was also given by SP’s Sangram Singh. He said that the duration of the session should be extended. He said that there is often a complaint of new members that they do not get the opportunity to speak in front of the old members, so it is necessary to increase the duration of the session.
SP’s Jagdish Narayan Rai said that this arrangement should be there in the manual.
