MPLADS – Khatana and Omar Abdullah Clash Over Housing and Fund Use
MPLADS – A fresh political exchange has surfaced in Jammu and Kashmir after BJP Rajya Sabha member Ghulam Ali Khatana accused Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of making misleading statements about his official accommodation and development fund spending.
The disagreement began when Omar Abdullah told reporters in Srinagar that Khatana, despite representing Jammu and Kashmir in the Rajya Sabha, had spent more than 90 percent of his Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds in Uttar Pradesh. The Chief Minister also suggested that the MP had been provided official housing in the Union Territory.
Dispute Over Government Accommodation
Responding to the remarks, Khatana said he had not been allotted any government residence in Jammu and Kashmir. In a statement posted on social media, he rejected the claim that nominated Members of Parliament had been given official housing in the region.
Khatana stated that he currently lives in his ancestral home in Bathindi, Jammu, and is not occupying any government property. He further alleged that he had repeatedly requested accommodation in Srinagar to carry out his parliamentary responsibilities more effectively but had received no response.
The BJP leader pointed out that the Chief Minister also holds the Urban Development portfolio and questioned how the government could deny the lack of available housing. He said written requests had been submitted to the Housing Department seeking a residential allotment in Srinagar over the past several years.
Allegations Over Fund Allocation
The controversy, however, extends beyond housing. The Chief Minister had raised concerns about the allocation of MPLADS funds, stating that a large majority of Khatana’s sanctioned works were executed in Uttar Pradesh rather than in Jammu and Kashmir.
Official figures show that Khatana has been allocated Rs 14.70 crore under the MPLADS scheme so far, of which Rs 12.59 crore has been utilized. Out of 176 development projects approved under his tenure, 144 were carried out in Uttar Pradesh, accounting for approximately 83 percent of the total works. In contrast, 32 projects were implemented in Jammu and Kashmir.
Within Jammu and Kashmir, 17 works were undertaken in Jammu district, six each in Samba and Poonch, two in Rajouri, and one in Kathua. Financial data further indicates that around Rs 10.58 crore, roughly 94 percent of the funds spent, was directed to five associations for development activities in Uttar Pradesh. By comparison, Rs 94 lakh was allocated to projects within Jammu and Kashmir.
Arambagh Enterprises emerged as the single largest recipient, receiving close to Rs 5.29 crore. Reports indicate that a substantial number of projects were concentrated in Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh.
Political Reactions Intensify
Khatana, who was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in September 2022 at a time when Jammu and Kashmir did not have an elected Assembly, is considered a senior BJP leader and a prominent Gujjar face of the party in the region. His nomination was aimed at ensuring representation of the Union Territory in the Upper House of Parliament.
The flow of MPLADS funds to Uttar Pradesh has drawn criticism from the ruling National Conference as well as the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other political groups in Jammu and Kashmir. Leaders from these parties have questioned the rationale behind directing a significant share of development funds outside the Union Territory that the MP represents.
While the Chief Minister has focused on the distribution of funds, Khatana has maintained that the government should clarify the issue of official accommodation and avoid what he describes as public misinformation.
The exchange has added to ongoing political friction in the region, with both sides standing by their positions. As the debate continues, attention remains on the allocation of development funds and the responsibilities of elected and nominated representatives toward the areas they serve.