Bharti bucks trend, wants to use his MLA fund on Wi-Fi

Aam Aadmi Party legislator Somnath Bharti has written to Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung seeking release of MLA local area development fund to provide free Wi-Fi service in his constituency.

Comparing internet access with basic necessities of man, the Malviya Nagar MLA in his letter to Jung said his constituents are computer literate.

“Since the residents of my constituency, Malviya Nagar, are well educated and computer literate, this demand is not only genuine but also in line with future development of New Delhi as one of the best cities in the world and this may be taken as pilot project in Malviya Nagar,” the October 3, 2014 letter to Jung said.

Backing the former Delhi law minister’s claim, the Aam Aadmi Party on Friday said the fund should be allowed to be utilised by legislators in their respective constituencies as per the wishes of residents and ‘stereotype’ utilisation methods should be modified.

“MLA LAD provides an opportunity to the elected representatives to go back to the people of their respective constituencies and seek their views on how the fund earmarked for them should be utilised and the arbitrariness in the process must be brought to an end,” the party said.

Bharti said people can benefit more out of government’s schemes because information about most of these is available online.

“As is famously known that the popular demand of the people i.e. roti, kapada aur makan stands replaced by roti, kapada, makan, shiksha, swasthaya aur internet and also in line with practices practiced worldwide, I am of the belief that free Wi-Fi facility will go a long way in making constituency a model one,” the letter said.