In the current session of Parliament, 'poverty striken' members did themselves two little favours. One, they hiked their own salaries and allowances and second, they allowed themselves to hold offices of profit by adding to the list of the offices so exempted.

First the hike. MPs have increased their salaries by a third and doubled their constituency allowance, daily allowance and pension, laying an additional burden of Rs. 60 crores on the exchequer. This is but a small part of their earnings, yet it does send a message.

Parliament also passed an amendment to Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959 popularly known as office of profit bill. This bill seeks to exempt 56 posts from the purview of the Act thereby giving reprieve to a number of MPs (according to a report 40 sitting MPs). This bill was passed by the Parliament in July but was sent back by the President saying that it was arbitrary. However, the Bill was passed in the same form by the Parliament. Behind each office so exempted lurks a face smiling behind the cover of the exemption. CPM has a fair share of MPs who are holding offices of profit while no ruling class party is exempt from it.

Behind the concept of office of profit lay the bourgeois parliamentary separation of executive from legislature so that the domination over the offices of profit does not allow the holders undue advantage in securing their election. It is a measure though not effective, against domination of executive over the legislature. However, the champions of bourgeois parliamentarianism including the cretins find this too unpalatable a restriction. CPM and CPI were the ardent supporters of the amendment to the Act despite President's advice to formulate a comprehensive definition of "office of profit" rather than just trying to save the present beneficiaries.

When Indian peasants are committing suicides for their inability to pay their debts, when workers are not able to save their jobs and secure even the minimum statutory rights including minimum wages barely enough for human existence, when youth and students of the country are groping in dark about their future, Members of Parliament did the only thing they 'could' do, to insulate themselves from the lot befalling the common people. Shame is a poor substitute for the means to maintain their lifestyle, election expenses and the greed to secure the future of their progeny. In the collective suicide of conscience, they also set up a mechanism for periodic and regular upward revision of their incomes. How does it matter if the same is denied to overwhelming populace of this country? Even if the lot of the people cannot be improved, at least that of their representatives should be.

Distinctions of ideology, politics, region and other parochial considerations could not be and were not allowed to come in the way. They marched in step- right and left. The neo-liberal agenda to which they wholeheartedly subscribe, may not permit them to do anything for the people, but it does not stop them from doing some things for themselves.

CPM, CPI did not allow themselves to be left out. They wholeheartedly supported the office of profit bill as a large number of them profit by it. They did oppose the increase in salaries and allowances in Parliament, but it was more of playing to galleries. Mohan Singh of Samajwadi Party said that these parties had not opposed the same in the committee which recommended them. It is not for the first time that they distinguished themselves with such display of posing as opposition while deriving the profits of being part of establishment.

MPs who acted so swiftly for their profit found no time (courage, really) to pass any resolution on even the nuclear deal about which a number of parliamentary parties including CPM, CPI had waxed so eloquent. They chose to rest content on Manmohan Singh's assurance on such an important issue. Or were they afraid to antagonize the imperialist overlord? BJP who initiated the process now posed as the opponent and announced its intention to pass a parliamentary resolution. It was enough for the 'left' brigade to scurry for cover. Having achieved this, BJP and its allies too forgot it. The whole House applauded Manmohan Singh's drive to take India closer to the sole superpower.