They may be paralyzing parliament but they are not forgetting to collect their daily allowances.

On Aug. 25, it had been almost a week since the 790 lawmakers of the world’s largest democracy transacted any business, with both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha being crippled over the issue of “tainted ministers” and Hindu nationalist hero Vinayak “Veer” Savarkar.

Only on Aug. 25 did the two houses conduct cursory business by passing the railway budget and an appropriation bill. But no MP is forgetting to sign the attendance register –– which will entitle them to their daily allowances. The daily allowance of an MP, without including the salary and a multitude of perks, comes to Rs. 500 ($10.85).

The Lok Sabha had not done any business or discussed any public issues since the second week of August when opposition members raised the issue of removal of a plaque with Savarkar’s name and poem from freedom fighters’ memorial.

The other issue dominating proceedings has been the presence of ministers who face criminal charges. The Rajya Sabha, the more sedate upper house, too, has been paralyzed. “Rs. 4. million ($83,330) an hour is a high price to pay for the nation,” said Rajya Sabha MP Nilotpal Basu.