Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 3: Chief Patron of National Panthers Party and former Member J&K Legislative Council, Prof Bhim Singh today strongly pleaded to stop the Local Area Development Fund of the Rajya Sabha MPs and the members of the Legislative Councils as huge public funds were being misused and not properly utilized for the public cause.
Addressing a press conference here today, Prof Singh said he is undertaking `Bharat Parikama’ from J&K in the mid of December to mobilize public opinion against corruption and communalism and create alternative at the centre. He alleged that corruption flows from the top and it should be curbed from the Union Parliament. He pointed out that MPLAD Fund is one of the major source of legalized corruption. Majority of the MPs are not utilizing this entire amount for the public cause. It is being misused and going in the wrong hands and also used in contesting elections or personal purpose of the members.
He pointed out that there are 245 Rajya Sabha MPs and each one of them is getting Rs 5 crore every year. The Government should immediately stop their MPLAD Funds as they do not have their specific constituencies. Similarly, the Funds of the MLCs ( Rs 2 crore/year) should also be stopped. The NPP leader alleged that there is no record of this money and public representatives are not answerable to any one for this. This massive misuse of public money be stopped forthwith, he maintained.
Prof Bhim Singh further alleged that Jammu/ Talwara migrants have not been provided relief at par with the Kashmiri migrants despite clear Supreme Court directions in 2007. The State Government has not bothered about the judgment and indulged in contempt. He said the people will lose faith in the courts and entire system seems to have collapsed in the country. Mr Singh further appealed the youth and other people of the State to join him for Bharat Parikrama and said that he would visit all the States and mobilise the public opinion against corruption.