Omar Abdullah Withdraws Three Bills on Salary, Perks Hikes After BJP Opposition

The Bills had been introduced by Abdullah on Monday during the ongoing autumn session of the J&K Assembly. They sought amendments to existing laws governing the salaries and allowances of ministers and members of the legislature.

Under the proposals, the Chief Minister’s monthly salary would have increased from Rs 70,000 to Rs 95,000, while the monthly salary of ministers was proposed to rise from Rs 65,000 to Rs 85,000.

The Bills also proposed increasing the perks available to MLAs from Rs 1.30 lakh to Rs 1.65 lakh.

With the BJP objecting to the proposals, Abdullah announced their withdrawal on Tuesday. He told the House that he had previously opposed increasing the salaries and allowances of elected representatives and said he would not proceed with the measures if even one MLA objected.

“I was always against the increase in salaries of CM, ministers and perks to the MLAs,” Abdullah said, while also referring to a BJP legislator’s earlier request for an increase in legislators’ allowances.

Abdullah said he was withdrawing the Bills and indicated that fresh legislation would be introduced. “I have always said even if one MLA opposes the increase in salaries of CM and ministers and perks to MLAs, I will never increase these. I, therefore, withdraw these Bills and tomorrow we will bring in new Bills,” he said.

The three proposals were among five Bills introduced by Abdullah in the Assembly on Monday. The other measures included proposed changes aimed at shifting Jammu and Kashmir towards a rule-based regulatory framework and amendments to the J&K Goods and Services Tax Act.

The withdrawal came amid heightened exchanges between the ruling National Conference-led government and the BJP during the autumn session. The Assembly on Monday passed a separate resolution seeking the immediate restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, despite protests and a walkout by BJP legislators.

The BJP had objected to the wording of the statehood resolution, particularly references to earlier Assembly resolutions concerning Jammu and Kashmir’s pre-August 2019 status. The party has said it supports restoration of statehood but opposed language it viewed as extending beyond that demand.

The salary and allowance proposals are part of a broader set of legislative changes being considered during the current Assembly session. The House is scheduled to conclude its autumn sitting on Wednesday, September 30.

Abdullah’s decision means the proposed increases in salaries and perks will not proceed in their original form. The Chief Minister said the government would bring new Bills on the matter in the Assembly.