Two months after Cong chief asked party legislators to donate 20% of their salaries for the drought-hit, confusion prevails among MLAs in UP

Two months have passed since Congress president Sonia Gandhi asked party MLAs and MPs to donate 20 per cent of their salaries for drought relief; but it seems confusion over the process still prevails in Uttar Pradesh.

Now, in order to ensure that MLAs and MPs from the state follow the guidelines, the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) is sending individual letters of reminders, asking them to inform the state party headquarters as to what they have done in this regard so far.

These letters, being sent by Ram Krishna Dwivedi, chairman of the party’s disciplinary committee, are personally addressed to the MPs and MLAs. The letter informs them about the 20 per salary cut proposed by the Congress Working Committee, which was to be followed for the entire year starting September 1. The letters are being sent following instructions from the AICC to collect information about the actual number of MPs and MLAs who are making the contribution, as it was a voluntary exercise.

The decision was taken at the CWC meeting held in Delhi in August following a suggestion from party president Sonia Gandhi to help people in the drought-affected area. The Congress has 21 MPs and 19 MLAs in UP. Sources said while the MPs have started making the contribution, there is confusion among the MLAs and some don’t even know they are supposed to make the donation.

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