MP told to explain funds use

Ultimatum to Charenamei

Imphal, March 2 : Lok Sabha MP Mani Charenamei today was served a ultimatum by a newly formed association of political and social activists to publish a white paper on utilisation of the MP local area development fund during the past five years Concern Citizens for Development of Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency warned the Independent MP representing the constituency that it would stage a “democratic form of agitation” against what it termed “misutilisation” of the fund if he failed to act within March 10. “If he fails to account for the Rs 10 crore funds, we will take him to court,” the association’s spokesperson, Athuan Abonmai, said at a news conference. MPs are given Rs 2 crore annually for the development of their constituencies. Clarifying that the association was not formed against the particular MP, Abonmai said activists of various political parties, including the BJP, the NCP and leaders of various public organisations joined hands for the development of the Outer constituency. The Outer seat, reserved for Scheduled Tribes has 28 Assembly constituencies. Of these, 20 are located in the hills while the remaining are in the valley. Social activists from the five hill districts and eight Assembly constituencies in the valley and leaders of former tribal student bodies are either members or office bearers of the newly formed body. In a statement signed by its convenor Pumjadou Thangsing, four co-convenors and a secretary, the association alleged that while Rajya Sabha MP Rishang Keishing and Lok Sabha MP from Inner constituency, Th. Meinya Singh, used their respective development funds on welfare programmes, the Outer MP hardly did any welfare programme with the local area development fund. Poupok Kamei, a co-convenor from Senapati district, said the MP did not spend even a single paisa from his development fund in the district. “Earlier, Outer MPs spent some money for the eight valley districts. But the present MP seems to have forgotten that the eight Assembly constituencies in the valley are part of his constituency,” Kh. Basanta said. Abonmai said there was no other motive in the campaign against the MP, adding that the new association would not support any candidate in the forthcoming parliamentary elections. He said it would continue to exist even after the Lok Sabha elections to ensure that the MP local area development fund was judiciously used and not go inside private pockets.