AAP Leaders Divided Over Salary Hike For MLAs

05 July, New Delhi

A day after some AAP MLAs calling for a hike in their allowances, Arvind Kejriwal-led party appears divided over the issue.

Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh said yesterday that it is not proper to demand a hike when distressed farmers are committing suicide in the country. He also criticised a proposal for a hike in MPs’ salaries.

Another AAP MLA, Pankaj Pushkar, who had openely sided with expelled leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan, said that it is completely inappropriate to demand a hike, when various sections of society are undergoing problems of different sorts.

On the other hand, former Delhi law minister Somnath Bharti pitched for more services to be extended to the MLAs rather than monetary allowances.

Several AAP MLAs have asked Delhi government for a hike in their allowances as they cited difficulties in meeting their expenses. The call has evoked a sharp response from opposition parties.