Srinagar, September 29, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday withdrew three Bills proposing an increase in the salaries of the Chief Minister and ministers, as well as perks for MLAs, following opposition from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Legislative Assembly.
Omar had tabled the three Bills on Monday, proposing to raise the monthly salary of the Chief Minister from Rs 70,000 to Rs 95,000 and that of a minister from Rs 65,000 to Rs 85,000. The proposed legislation also sought to increase the perks of MLAs from Rs 1.30 lakh to Rs 1.65 lakh.
While announcing the withdrawal of the Bills, Omar, who also holds the portfolio of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, accused the BJP of politicising the issue, claiming that one of its MLAs had earlier written to him seeking an increase in legislators’ perks.
“I was always against the increase in salaries of CM, ministers and perks to the MLAs. One of their (BJP) MLAs had written to me to increase the perks of the legislators. Now they are doing politics by opposing these Bills,” Omar told the House.
He also criticised the BJP over its record on the demands of daily wagers when it was in power.
“When they were in power they did nothing for the daily wagers and today since we are in power, they are accusing us of doing nothing,” he said.
Omar reiterated that he would not support the proposed increases if even one MLA opposed them.
“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,” he said.
Announcing the withdrawal, the Chief Minister added, “I, therefore, withdraw these Bills and tomorrow we will bring in new Bills.”
The BJP has been strongly opposing the National Conference (NC) during the ongoing autumn session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, which is scheduled to conclude on Wednesday.
Tensions between the two parties escalated on Monday when the BJP opposed a resolution seeking restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, arguing that its wording linked the demand to the restoration of Article 370 and autonomy for the Union Territory.
The BJP said it would have supported the resolution had it been limited exclusively to the restoration of statehood.
The withdrawal of the three Bills comes amid continued political disagreements between the ruling National Conference and the BJP during the Assembly session.
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