Bajwa gives lion’s share of MPLAD

Saturday, 07/12/2013

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131207/punjab.htm#6

Gurdaspur : When this Wednesday (December 4) Gurdaspur MP Partap Singh Bajwa doled out a grant of Rs 10 lakh from his MPLAD fund to a private school owned by one of his confidants in Dhariwal, falling in his MLA-wife Charanjit Kaur’s assembly segment Qadian, he was not extending favours from his discretionary fund for his wife’s seat for the first time.

The same school was given a grant of Rs 5 lakh in 2010-11 as well, in what is an example how the MP is allegedly distributing funds to his aides in his chosen seat of Qadian while ignoring the claims of residents in other eight segments of his parliamentary seat.

Though Bajwa is quick to deny it, statistics show he has been doling out financial favours in and around his stronghold of Qadian from where his wife won by 16,000 votes.

Political observers see this as an attempt by him to “fortify” the seat for his wife and his progeny.

Elected in 2009, the MP has so far recommended 671 developmental projects worth Rs 11.76 crore. As many as 463 works have been completed at a cost of Rs 8.31 crore -- he was allocated Rs 14 crore. The fund does not elapse and is carried over to the next year.

For the years 2009-10 and 2010-11, there was a limit of Rs 2 crore per year while from 2011-12, the fund was increased to Rs 5 crore a year. In 2009-10, he disbursed Rs 57.88 lakh for 52 works, a majority of these in the blocks of Qadian, Dhariwal and Kahunwan, all part of Qadian Vidhan Sabha seat.

Funds were also allocated to Sujanpur segment allegedly at the insistence of his aide Vinay Mahajan, who contested on the Congress ticket.

Bajwa claims he has distributed grants impartially, though figures speak otherwise. In case of Fatehgarh Churian seat, represented by the MP’s political rival Tripit Rajinder Bajwa, a mere Rs 50,000 was released in 2010-11 for a youth club.

In 2012-13, 285 works were sanctioned, of which 108 were completed at a cost of Rs 2.34 crore. Of these, nearly 50 per cent were in Qadian, Kahnuwan and Dhariwal blocks, all three of which fall in Qadian Vidhan Sabha seat.

Likewise in 2011-12, out of the 176 projects completed at a cost of Rs 3.52 crore, again more than 50 per cent of the works were done in Qadian.

Extending largesse

2009-10: Disbursed Rs 57.88 lakh for 52 works, mostly in Qadian, Dhariwal and Kahunwan blocks, all part of Qadian assembly segment, represented by Bajwa's wife Charanjit Kaur

2011-12: Of the 176 projects completed at a cost of Rs 3.52 crore, over 50% were done in Qadian

2012-13: 285 works sanctioned at a cost of Rs 2.34 crore; again nearly half sanctioned for Qadian, Kahnuwan and Dhariwal blocks

Elected in 2009, the MP has so far recommended 671 developmental projects worth Rs 11.76 crore