Rajya Sabha MP Ajit Bhuyan Denies MPLADS Fund Misuse Allegations
Allegations of Misuse and Political Conspiracy
Guwahati, July 3: In light of an ongoing investigation into the alleged misuse of Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds, Rajya Sabha MP Ajit Bhuyan has labeled the accusations against him as a "political conspiracy" designed to undermine his critiques of the state government.
During a press conference on Thursday, Bhuyan asserted that there is a calculated effort to damage his reputation due to his opposition to the ruling party.
He stated, "A conspiracy has been orchestrated against me. The guidelines clearly state that an MP cannot directly utilize MPLADS funds. Our role is limited to recommending projects for execution, while the authority to implement and allocate funds rests with the Deputy Commissioner and relevant officials."
Recently, Bhuyan was questioned for approximately six hours by the Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell (SVC) regarding the alleged misappropriation of MPLADS funds for the fiscal years 2021–22 and 2022–23.
The investigation was initiated following media reports in February 2023 that highlighted potential widespread corruption. This led to the suspension and, in some instances, dismissal of several Assam Civil Services (ACS) officers allegedly involved in the matter.
Reaffirming his position, Bhuyan remarked, "Throughout my political career, I have confronted multiple chief ministers. I have faced numerous legal challenges, including cases under TADA, and have spent several years in prison. I am not intimidated by Himanta Biswa Sarma or anyone else. I will disclose everything at the appropriate time."
Regarding the chargesheet filed in the case, he mentioned that the issue is now sub-judice and beyond the direct influence of the state government.
"I won’t delve into all the specifics right now as I was in Ladakh for a meeting. I need to review the chargesheet first. Once a chargesheet is filed, the government has no further involvement; it is now in the court's hands," Bhuyan explained.
He also questioned why no action has been taken against district officials responsible for managing the MPLADS funds.
"Why is the Chief Minister shielding the Deputy Commissioner who was in charge at that time? He should have been the first to face arrest. Instead, they are attempting to intimidate me to cover up their own wrongdoings," Bhuyan claimed.
Bhuyan noted that his activism has consistently put him at odds with the government. "A couple of years ago, I tagged the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister, and Mohan Bhagwat on Facebook, urging an investigation into the assets of the Chief Minister’s family. I even challenged the Chief Minister to a live debate on his channel, but he declined. Instead, he unleashed the CM Vigilance against me," he stated.
He emphasized his commitment to continue voicing concerns over what he describes as "widespread corruption and injustice."
"They cannot instill fear in me or silence my voice. A thorough reading of the MPLADS guidelines shows that it does not permit MPs to spend the funds directly. Our role is strictly advisory," Bhuyan reiterated.
Furthermore, he indicated that he would soon disclose additional information to expose what he perceives as an effort to stifle dissent and "overthrow this corrupt government."