Ahmedabad: Gujarat BJP’s former Khadia MLA Bhushan Bhatt on a live television debate last evening schooled AAM Admi Party (AAP)’s Gujarat unit Chief Gopal Italia, on latter’s false claim about the pension received by Ex- MLAs of Gujarat Assembly.

During a television debate,like always, AAP Gujarat President Gopal Italia interrupted the BJP leader by asking him, again and again, that whether the pension received by Ex-MLAs of the Gujarat assembly will be considered as ‘Free Ki Revdi’ or not. It’s worth noting that Bhushan Bhatt is former BJP MLA. Italia was repeatedly asking Bhatt whether he receives ‘free revdi’ of pension as former MLA.

Replying to Italia’s false claim BJP leader Bhatt said, “this statement from AAP leader showcases his ignorance as he does not know that there is no provision of pension to any elected member of Gujarat assembly.

After this embarrassing exchange and egg on face, Gopal Italia changed his tone and topic in the debate. Had it the speech and not debate, such falsehood would go uncorrected in public.

If this was not a debate and speech (monologue), the falsehood could go uncorrected to public, like it happens often ! Yes Gujarat MLAs don't get pension. Delhi and Punjab MLAs get and would continue to get it, as AAP govts have not repealed the practice. pic.twitter.com/tX4hTjcvdj

— Japan K Pathak (@JapanPathak) August 3, 2022

It is noteworthy that, Gujarat is the State where no former MLA gets benefit of pension after the term. On the contrary in AAP ruled Delhi State, there’s a provision of pension for former MLAs. After forming the government in Delhi in 2015 Kejriwal government brought a bill in the Assembly to raise the legislators’ salaries and pensions, which was returned by then LG Najeeb Jung.

Again Delhi Assembly passed a bill on July 4 that intends to increase the salaries, allowances, and pension of MLAs. If approved by the President the salary including allowances of Delhi MLAs will go from 54000 to around 90,000 rupees.

The salary and allowances of Delhi MLAs were last revised in 2011 according to which 7,500 per month was the basic pension of Ex-MLAs in Delhi. AAP ruled Punjab has also a provision of pension to former MLAs.

DeshGujarat