An exclusive Right To Information response accessed by India Today reveals that only two MPs in the current Lok Sabha have chosen not to draw their salary. While one MP belongs to the BJP, the other is from the Congress.
Members of Parliament are often seen coming together across party lines when it comes to increasing their salaries and perks. But there are some who do not want a paisa in remuneration. A Right To Information response reveals that only two MPs in the current Lok Sabha have chosen not to draw their salary – one from the BJP and the other from the Congress.
The two MPs represent constituencies separated by 2,575 kilometres – the distance between Kurukshetra and Imphal. However, one of them has gone a step further: he has chosen not to take even the government perks and allowances that come with the office.
According to the RTI reply from the Lok Sabha Secretariat, made in resposne to a query posed by India Today, the two MPs are Naveen Jindal, MP from Kurukshetra, and Dr Bimol Akoijam Angomcha, MP from Inner Manipur. Moreover, Jindal has also chosen not to avail his official allowances or perks.
According to their election affidavits, the two MPs come from very different financial backgrounds. Naveen Jindal, the MP from Kurukshetra, has declared assets worth Rs 1,241 crore, while Dr Bimol Akoijam Angomcha, who represents Inner Manipur, has declared assets of about Rs 97 lakh.
Jindal is also among the wealthiest members of the 18th Lok Sabha. Yet, he is not the richest. That distinction belongs to Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, the Telugu Desam MP from Guntur, who has declared assets worth over Rs 5,705 crore. He is followed by BJP MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, who has declared assets worth over Rs 4,568 crore.
