Sidhu diverts over 47 pct of MPLAD to wife's constituency

Already in the thick of controversies, given his non-availability to voters and being the worst performer among Punjab MPs, BJP MP and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu finds himself in a yet another embarrassing moment by reportedly allocating a major share of his Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) funds to his wife Dr. Navjot Kaur Sidhu's assembly constituency - Amritsar (East).

According to information available, Sidhu spent over 47 per cent of his MPLAD funds on his wife's constituency. The balance 53 per cent was divided in all eight other assembly segments that fall under his MP constituency of Amritsar.

Jasbir Singh Gill, a senior Congress leader and former MLA for the Beas region, has accused Sidhu of shedding crocodile tears about not being given a say on completing development-linked projects in Amritsar.

In all, nine East Amritsar assembly seats received Rs.8 crores in fiscal 2013-14. Navjot's wife is MLA and Chief Parliamentary Secretary (Health) in the Badal Government.

Her constituency got the lion's share from the funds of her husband and grants to the tune of lakhs are still to be spent in her constituency.

"Anna Vande Reodiyan Murh Thur Apneyan Noon" (One always thinks first about his own people's profit), said Gill of Sidhu.

After his wife's constituency, Sidhu preferred to dole out funds to the Ajnala assembly constituency, which is represented by close friend and Shiromani Akali Dal MLA Amarpal Singh Bony Ajnala.

Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat said that in total Rs.16.97 crore had been released by Sidhu as grants out of the total Rs.19 crore sanctioned.

Ajnala received Rs.2.2 crore, Attari Rs.2.1 crore, Rajasansi. Rs.1.8 crore, Majithia Rs.1.3 crore, Amritsar North just Rs.89 lakhs, Amritsar West Rs.39 lakhs and Amritsar central just Rs.15 lakhs.