Telangana BJP MP Soyam Bapurao has landed in a controversy by reportedly admitting that he had constructed a house for himself and performed the wedding of his son with the help of funds from the Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme.
A video clip of his speech at a meeting of BJP workers went viral on social media on Monday.
The MP from Adilabad is heard saying that there was nothing wrong in using the funds for personal needs. While admitting that he had not utilised the MPLAD funds for any developmental projects, he also remarked that he had not misused the funds like some other MPs.
"I built a house with the MP Fund because there is no respect if you don't have your own house. I got my son married through an MP Fund. It is true that funds were not used for development. But like the MPs in the past, I did not siphon off the funds," he said.
The Lok Sabha member went on to add that no leader would say what he was telling them.
As the video went viral and opposition parties started demanding action against him, Bapurao issued a statement in the evening, denying that he misused MPLAD funds.
The MP said something which was spoken in an internal meeting should not have been shared in public.
He alleged that BJP leaders Ramesh Rathod and Payala Shankar were behind the leak as they were unable to see his popularity.
Bapurao said before he joined the BJP in 2019, the party had no existence in Adilabad but after his victory, the party became strong and some leaders within the party were unable to digest this.
India slams Pakistan for spreading lies, asks Islamabad to vacate Indian territory held illegal and forcible occupation
India on Tuesday slammed Pakistan for "spreading lies" on Kashmir and said that the country which continues to actively promote cross-border terrorism should "vacate" the Indian territory held under its illegal and forcible occupation.
Google to acquire cloud security platform Wiz for $32 billion
Tech major Google on Tuesday announced to acquire Wiz, a leading cloud security platform headquartered in New York, for $32 billion in an all-cash transaction.
55.02 crore Jan-Dhan accounts opened; 36.63 crore in rural, semi-urban areas: Centre
A total of 55.02 crore Jan-Dhan accounts have been opened till March 7, out of which, 36.63 crore accounts are in rural and semi-urban areas, the government said on Tuesday.
Manipur burned under Congress rule, but they ignored it: Nirmala Sitharaman
Responding to a discussion on Manipur in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman accused the Congress of neglecting violence in the state during its tenure.
Woman arrested with pistol at J&K’s Mata Vaishno Devi temple
A woman pilgrim was arrested after a pistol was recovered from her possession at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, said officials on Tuesday.
Ahead of Sunita William’s ‘homecoming’, PM Modi pens letter to India’s illustrious daughter
As the NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore begin their journey back home from space, after staying ‘stranded’ at the International Space Station (ISS) for about nine months, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written a letter to one of India’s most illustrious daughters hoping for her safe return.
PM's Maha Kumbh statement in LS: Speaker invokes Rule 372, LoP Rahul takes ‘new India’ jibe
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday described the Maha Kumbh 2025 as a moment of ‘awakening’ for the nation and credited its success to countless contributions from countrymen, this prompted protests from the Opposition and also ‘new India’ jibe from Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi. The House was adjourned for the day soon after that.
India resolved to eliminating 5 diseases in 5 years, TB control progressing well: Dr VK Paul
India is resolved to eliminating five diseases in the coming five years that include leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, measles, rubella and kala-azar, Dr V.K. Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, said on Tuesday.