AGARTALA, March 6 (TIWN): The 10-day Tripura 2015-16 assembly budget session ended here on March 4 with the Opposition Congress legislators contemplated to pile up heat on the government over corruption and chit fund issues. While in the face of sharp criticism, Chief Mister Manik Sarkar brought some minor proposals in the Bill seeking increase in the salary and allowance of Chief Minister, Ministers, Speaker and MLAs. Besides, the bill proposed to set up separate state university is sent to the select committee and are likely to be passed in the next assembly session.

 The 2015-16 budget session here in Tripura has ended with the multi-crore rupee scam in Bishalgarh RD Block, RMSA scam and financial irregularity in CMO Office in Unakoti district dominated the House proceedings. While the Opposition insisted on a CBI probe into the Rs 17-crore Bishalgarh scam, the government had ordered a departmental inquiry into the NRHM scam in CMO Office, Unakoti district. Moreover, the Opposition MLAs attacked the Treasury Bench on the chit fund issue as the CBI has dropped several important cases due to faults on the part of the government. However but to mention here at a time when the opposition laid a stress on the CBI probe on the chit fund issue the CBI team on Wednesday conducted a search in operation here in Tripura Rose Valley office, where a section of CPI (M) MLAs and the ministers has come under the limelight.

Besides, the 2015-16 budget has brought a pay hike bonanza for the Tripura Ministers and the MLAs. After a discussion on the Bill in the Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tapan Chakraborty said the state government has proposed an average 15% hike in the existing salary, allowances and pension of Chief Minister, Ministers and MLA considering all aspects. Referring to opposition MLAs’s views on the salary and allowances, he said it was not fair to compare MLAs with Group-D employees. “We have come here to serve the people sideling all comforts. And, most importantly, we have joined the politics knowing all facts”, he said. Citing example of upward trend in the benefits for the legislators, Chakraborty said the government has brought the amendment Bill for the fourth time after it came into effect from 2008.
Earlier, opposition leader (in-charge) Gopal Roy, Congress MLAs- Biswabandhu Sen and Jitendra Sarkar expressed their dismay over the low financial benefits for the legislators. Mr. Sen, while speaking on the Bill, said the Centre looks set to notify the recommendations of 7th Pay Commission for the employees. “After the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission’s recommendations, a Director the state government will draw a salary which is proposed for a group-D employee of the Central government”, he said. Mr. Sen also urged the government to offer a decent financial benefit for the legislators. And when the Parliamentary Affairs Minister was to table the Bill for voting, the Chief Minister brought some propels to ensure a decent financial benefits for legislators and ex legislator keeping in mind of the sky rocketing price rise. Sarkar suggested legislator’s salary should be Rs. 36,000 per month in stead of proposed Rs. 32,000 while pension of ex MLA should not be less than Rs. 15,000 per month. And, others will get hike proportionately. However the bill was passed during the 2015-16 budget session.

Besides, the state-run university bill was also tabled in the assembly but it was sent to the select committee. When an arrogant and irrational autocrat tends to be logical, it confused commoners on his modus of operandi what exactly happened on Friday So for Manik Sarkar, what could be the best option other than sending it to select committee for another six months? Manik Sarkar made opposition happy as well as alive the aspiration of his corrupt gang to be in the university at the cost of the dignity of his cabinet colleague.