BJP RS member from J&K faces fire for spending a lion’s share of MPLAD fund in UP | India News
JAMMU: BJP Rajya Sabha member from J&K Ghulam Ali Khatana has come under fire for allocating a larger share of his MP Local Area Development Fund (MPLAD) to projects in UP than the state he represents in the upper house of Parliament.“What is the purpose of nominating an MP from J&K if Uttar Pradesh spends 94% of its development funds? It exposes the stark truth: J&K’s representation has been reduced to symbolism, while its people are denied their fair share,” said Tanveer Sadiq, spokesperson of the governing National Conference.Khatana, who joined the BJP in 2008 and was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 2022 from the Jammu region, hails from Jammu.Under the MPLAD scheme, nominated Rajya Sabha members are allowed to recommend development works in any state or district across the country. Using the scheme, Khatana recommended 139 development projects in Shahjahanpur, three in Pilibhi, one in Chandauli and one in Badaun in UP.In Jammu and Kashmir, he recommended 17 projects for Jammu district, six for Samba, one for Kathua, six for Poonch and two for Rajouri.PDP spokesperson Aditya Gupta said, “He entered Parliament from Jammu and Kashmir, but his development funds went to UP. That is the BJP model. Votes from Jammu, funds for UP.”“Jammu has not been betrayed by outsiders, it has always been our own MPs and MLAs who have sold out our interests,” Gupta said.Khatana defends his decision. “I was nominated MP. I can recommend work in any part of the country,” he told TOI.Sadiq said when Khatana was nominated, it was touted as a move to empower the Gujjar community.Khatana comes from Gujjar community.
