AGARTALA, Jan 24 (TIWN): Allegation raised against Tripura MP Jharna Das Baidya for misusing her MP-Fund and benefiting her own close circles. Opposition BJP claimed that as an MP Jharna Das Baidya had allowances computers for 10 schools from her MP Fund.

Behind each and every schools, the total cost was shown as Rs. 4 lakhs and thus in total Rs. 40 lakhs were sanctioned for 10 schools. But while sanctioning the fund in letter heads she wrote District Magistrates that the computers will be purchased from Bidhyashree Electronic Private Limited. Addressing a press meet Biplab Deb, BJP State President Biplab Deb said that as the MP a person can decide the amount to be sanctioned. “We want inquiry against the use of MPLADS fund. Also we need a clarification from Bijan Dhar, who claims about the ‘clean-images’ of CPI-M politburos”.

“Manik Sarkar is well aware about it as every depts. are controlled by him”, said Deb. “Tripura’s corruption has surpassed all the level. From Block level to the Secretariat all the places have become a den of corruption”, said Deb.

Jharna Das Baidya who is a Member of the Parliament of India, representing Tripura in the Rajya Sabha, was elected unopposed in March 2010. Before being elected to parliament, she served as the chairperson of the State Social Welfare Board.  This is not the first time that allegation raised against here.

However, after allegation raised Jharna Das Baidya immediately declined to have any idea about the so called ‘Misuse of Funds’ and said, “I am ready for any inquiry against my activity. I have a clean image’.

MPLADS has been mired in controversy for Tripura as with many citizens questioning the rationale for such a scheme. Oppositions many times raised that issue that the scheme and say it breeds corruption and violates the principle of separation of powers. Some MPs were found using projects created with these funds as their own assets. Some projects were found to have been encroached by local musclemen, including aides of the MPs. 

Apart from MP fund, MLAs funds which are sanctioned by the state govts hardly used in appropriate manner. However, this year Assembly demanded to increase the MLA Funds and CM Manik Sarkar said he will ‘take care of the issue’.