Amritsar
Amarinder Singh (cong)
Questions asked: 13
Mplad funds utilised: Rs 5 crore
Attendance: 35%
Unkept promises
Unkept promises
Dr Dharamvira Gandhi, who is a reputed cardiologist, was the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party in Parliament till about a month ago. Gandhi has always been a vociferous social activist. He was detained for a month in Amritsar for protesting against the 1977 Emergency.
Performance in Parliament
He was the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party in Parliament till about a month ago. He delivered 30 speeches and participated in nearly two dozen discussions. He commented on the agrarian crisis, land acquisition bill, labour laws, privatisation of education and health, caste, communalism and gender discrimination. He also spoke about the need to focus on literature, science and research. He raised the issue of transgender rights and spoke against Juvenile Act.
‘Satisfied with my work’
"I am very satisfied with my performance so far. I have been able to get various works done in my constituency. I have been raising issues such as the flooding of Ghaggar, rail connectivity, etc. I have been assured that the problems will be addressed."
Opposition’s take
Congress legislator Preneet Kaur said, “I need not comment on Dr Dharamvira Gandhi’s performance. Let the people decide."
Anandpur Sahib
PS Chandumajra (SAD)
Questions asked: 113
Mplad funds utilised: Rs 4.5 crore
Attendance: 91%
Initiatives taken
Unkept promises
Prem Singh Chandumajra is a seasoned politician. He is known for his aggressive persona.
Performance in Parliament
Chandumajra remained a proactive MP as far as his participation in discussions in Parliament is concerned. He not only raised the issue of crop loss due to inclement weather in the state but also sought bonus over wheat MSP to farmers against yield loss. He raised the issue of Punjab’s right on Chandigarh and river water dispute. He demanded the scrapping of NRI blacklist and incentives to state industry on pattern of hill states.
‘Most pre-poll promises fulfilled’
"All promises made during the election have either been fulfilled or work on them has started. The problem of wild animals will be resolved soon. A project worth Rs 28 crore has beep prepared to supply drinking water to Kandi area villages. Three rail lines – Mohali-Rajpura, Anandpur Sahib-Garhshankar and Rahon-Khanna -- will be announced soon."
Opposition’s take
HS Shergill, Aam Aadmi Party leader, who contested unsuccessfully against Chandumajra, said the SAD leader had sought votes in the name of PM Narendra Modi who promised “achhe din” for the country. “In contrast, the people, particularly of Punjab, are suffering. The MP failed to bring any relief to people on matters concerning the constituency such as delay in distribution of grants and illegal mining,” he said.
Khadoor Sahib
RS Brahmpura (SAD)
Despite being the leader of SAD’s parliamentary party in the Lok Sabha, the Khadoor Sahib MP never asked even a single question in Parliament in the past one year.
Performance in Parliament
“I could not ask any question in the Parliament so far since there is a provision of conducting lottery system to choose the names of MPs who want to pose questions. Call it my hard luck, the slip bearing my name was never picked up,” he says. The MP, nevertheless, participated in a number of debates including, Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill 2015 and the Railway Budget.
‘Working to get issues resolved’
I have released MPLAD funds in all nine Assembly constituencies. We are facing shortage of staff at health and education institutions as doctors and teachers do not want to serve in remote areas. Drug addiction is rampant. We are working to get the issues resolved
Opposition’s take
Harminder Singh Gill, general secretary, PPCC, says, “Brahmpura is following his party’s precedent of allocating his quota of funds to cater to his vote bank only. Despite having its alliance partner ruling at the Centre, no thought was spared to develop a special economic zone here, which could have given a boost to the development and generated employment opportunities.”
Hoshiarpur
Vijay Sampla (BJP)
Questions asked: 1
Mplad funds utilised: Rs 2.49 crore
Attendance: 97%
Initiatives taken
Unkept promises
Coming from a modest background, Sampla rose to become Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment. The BJP leader has worked as farm hand, labourer and plumber.
Performance in Parliament
The first-time MP and Minister of State in the Union government has a good attendance record in Parliament. He attended 97 per cent of the meetings and participated in four debates. Prior to his induction in the Union Cabinet, he had asked one question regarding collection of tax by cantonment boards in Punjab. As compared to 83 per cent attendance in first session, his attendance in the Budget session was cent per cent.
Have ensured ‘achhe din’: Sampla
I have fulfilled the promises made to the people of Hoshiarpur. The daily train to Delhi, surveys for rail link extension, national highways and especially the rail link from Mukerian to Talwara make it evident. I will perform even better in the remaining four years and ensure that my constituency gets much more than what was promised.
Opposition’s take
Mohinder Singh KP, senior Congress leader who unsuccessfully contested against Sampla, terms the first year of the MP a complete failure. “Sampla has failed to get any project for Jalandhar. He is taking credit of highway projects already approved by the UPA government.”
Faridkot
Prof Sadhu Singh (AAP)
Questions asked: 12
Attendance: 70 per cent
Funds utilised: Rs 2.24 crore
Initiatives taken
Unkept promises
Prof Sadhu Singh joined politics in 2014. He has raised the issue of youths going missing in Faridkot in Parliament.
Performance in Parliament
Sadhu Singh raised 12 questions in Parliament. He demanded a CBI probe into the kidnapping and disappearance of youths. He told Parliament that the state police had not cracked even a single kidnapping case.
Sadhu Singh claims:
I tried to improve law and order and upgrade the education standard in my constituency. Even though I have not been in the pink of health, I raised local issues in Parliament.
Opposition’s take
Sadhu Singh has been sluggish in utilising MPLAD funds. He has failed to keep any of his promise. — Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, former Akali MP
Ludhiana
Ravneet Singh Bittu (Cong)
Questions asked: 188
Mplad funds utilised: Rs 2.5 crore
Attendance: 92%
Initiatives taken
Unkept promises
Ravneet Singh Bittu is an MP from Ludhiana parliamentary constituency from where he won in spite of a nationwide anti-Congress wave. Earlier, he represented Anandpur Sahib. He is the grandson of slain state Chief Minister Beant Singh.
Performance in Parliament:
Bittu's has participated in 25 debates, including rising unemployment due to shutting down of small-scale industry; postage stamp of Kartar Singh Sarabha; abducted Indians in Iraq; etc. He has also spoken about the flagging garment export industry in Ludhiana, Moga bus molestation case and government's control over the board of Hazur Sahib. He spoke about the agrarian crisis in the country. Bittu said there was a need to make provision for the setting up of godowns for storage of foodgrain on platforms of railway stations across the country.
‘Will provide relief to small-scale industry’
I took up the issue of the small-scale industry in the state. We urged the government to remove import duty on scrap. Besides, we have been working consistently on the Buddha Nullah issue. At present, the report of the Standing Committee is awaited.
Opposition’s take
The public is the best judge of an MP’s work for the constituency. We have, so far, not seen Bittu actively addressing issues. His office in the mini-secretariat is rarely open for the public. — HS Phoolka, AAP leader
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