Coronavirus Crisis: President Of India, Prime Minister, MPs, To Take 30% Pay Cut; MPLADs Suspended

The union cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi cleared an ordinance to cut salaries of parliamentarians and ministers by 30 per cent for a year. The move comes amid the coronavirus crises in the country. Union Information & Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar informed that the President, Vice-President and governors of all states had also offered to take 30 per cent cut in their salaries. The cabinet also decided to suspend the MP local area development scheme for two years and transfer the money into the government’s consolidated fund. The money under MPLADS is Rs 7,900 crore for two years: 2020-21 and 2021-22. The decision comes hours after PM Modi briefed the BJP workers and told them to prepare for a long fight. He said that the country and its people cannot get tired or rest in this long war. He also appealed to the party workers to contribute to PM-CARES Fund.