Failure of MPs in utilizing funds shocking – NC

National Conference Thursday said failure of Parliamentarians to utilize funds was shocking and indicated their incompetence in dispensing their basic duties.
Reacting to the reports revealing that the newly-elected Members of Parliament from J&K had failed to utilize their MP Local Area Development (MPLAD) Funds, NC spokesman Junaid Mattu said it indicated a complete failure of PDP and BJP MPs in dispensing their basic duties. He said this was a major indictment of both PDP and BJP and that the Members of Parliament from both parties owed an answer if not an apology to the people of the State.
“Seven months have elapsed since these MPs were elected to the Parliament. Yet the Members of Parliament from PDP and BJP have chosen not to use one paisa out of the 15 crore released to them as the first installment of the MPLAD funds. The MPs could have utilized these funds for a number of pressing public issues in the State but sadly they have chosen to make the people suffer while they watch and derive sadistic pleasure. This is unacceptable and highly unfortunate”, NC Spokesman Mattu said.
The NC spokesman rued the missed opportunity viz-a-viz how the PDP MPs could have utilized these precious funds in coming to the help of the flood-victims in Kashmir Province and said that this apathy towards the flood-victims was criminal.
“There are three MPs that PDP has from the Kashmir Valley. Each MP has been given 2.5 crore as the first installment as their MPLAD funds. That’s a total of 7.5 crore that could have been used to provide succor and relief to the flood-victims. Yet the only contribution of PDP MPs towards the flood-victims was first foisting an election on them when they required rehabilitation and relief and then following up with mere, rhetorical press statements. The crying shame is that these PDP MPs couldn’t even have it in them to use their MPLAD Funds to contribute in procuring medical equipment for our hospitals in the aftermath of the floods,” Mattu said while lashing out at PDP.
“Similarly there were various public issues that could have been focused on by the BJP Members of Parliament in Jammu Province. The first installment of the MPLAD Funds could have been utilized to alleviate the sufferings of the displaced people along the International Border, in ensuring the relief and rehabilitation of flash flood-victims and in giving a fillip to development works. This callous behavior of BJP MPs in J&K contradicts BJP’s posturing on development. Seven months is a long time to prove your intentions and to put your money where your mouth is and sadly the people have been left disenchanted,” NC spokesman further added.