Jammu, February 16, 2026: BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP from Jammu & Kashmir, Gulam Ali Khatana, is facing sharp criticism from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and National Conference (NC) for allegedly allocating the bulk of his Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds to projects in Uttar Pradesh instead of his home state.
94% of Funds Spent Outside Home State
Gulam Ali Khatana, a senior BJP leader and prominent face of the Gurjar community, was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in September 2022. Out of ₹14.7 crore allocated under MPLADS for 176 approved projects, 144 projects were in Uttar Pradesh, costing ₹10.58 crore—equivalent to 94% of the total funds.
PDP and NC Raise Concerns
PDP spokesperson Tanveer Sadiq questioned the logic of nominating a Jammu & Kashmir MP if nearly all his development funds are spent elsewhere. “This exposes the bitter truth. Representation of Jammu & Kashmir has become symbolic while the people are deprived of their rightful share,” he said.
Projects Recommended Across Uttar Pradesh
Using MPLADS guidelines, which allow nominated MPs to recommend development works in any state or district, Khatana allocated 139 projects in Shahjahanpur, 3 in Pilibhit, 1 in Chandauli, and 1 in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh.
Projects in Jammu & Kashmir
In contrast, his home state saw far fewer allocations: 17 projects in Jammu district, 6 in Samba, 1 in Kathua, 6 in Poonch, and 2 in Rajouri. PDP spokesperson Aditya Gupta criticized this allocation, stating, “Funds meant for Jammu & Kashmir went to Uttar Pradesh. This is the BJP model—votes from Jammu, funds for another state.”
MP Defends His Decision
Khatana defended his actions, saying, “As a nominated MP, I have the right to recommend projects anywhere in the country.” Tanveer Sadiq added that Khatana’s nomination in 2022 had been promoted as a step to empower the Gurjar community, to which the MP belongs.
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