MLAs upset over halting local funds

BJP legislators have accused former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for halting development work in their constituencies. 

Kejriwal had blocked all the Local Area Development funds to the MLAs to introduce Swaraj Bill and saved it for mohalla sabhas. 

“This is totally wrong. How can they stop MLA Local Area Development (LAD) funds for so long? We are the elected public representatives of our areas and people who have voted us expect that we perform. The development work has been halted as the government refused to release the LAD funds. It does not matter whether the Swaraj Bill gets passed or not. We have to continue development in our constituency,” BJP MLA from Kirari area Anil Jha told Deccan Herald. He claimed that as the decision was not taken by the Assembly, the LG can easily drop it.

“It was a cabinet decision. It was neither tabled nor passed by the House. Now as there is no government, the Lieutenant Governor can drop it,” the legislator said.The Congress party also joined hands with BJP over the issue and a party delegation is likely to meet LG.

“Holding LAD fund is totally a wrong decision. All the eight MLAs of the Congress have to continue development in their constituencies. We will seek LG’s intervention in the matter,” said Congress leader Mukesh Sharma.

AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal had stopped releasing the LAD funds to the MLAs as he was planning to introduce the Swaraj Bill. The Mohalla Sabahs of the proposed bill were granted full powers on the use of funds in the areas. The MLA LAD funds were supposed to be directly transferred to them and the residents of the area had to vote for construction of a particular amenity in the area.

However, Kejriwal resigned even before the bill was tabled in the Assembly. The MLA LAD fund was blocked in a cabinet meeting last month.