14% sitting MLAs have criminal cases against them: Survey
CHANDIGARH: A total of 16 MLAs, 14% of the present strength of 113 members in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, faces criminal charges, including those of murder, attempt to murder and crimes against women. A survey by non-political and non-government bodies — Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), and Punjab Election Watch — has revealed.
The said bodies made the observations after analysing the affidavits of sitting MLAs filed ahead of the 2017 elections. Currently four constituencies — Bhadaur, Bholath, Jaiton and Maur — out of 117 are vacant owing to resignation by the sitting MLAs.
In terms of serious criminal cases, six MLAs are from Congress, one of AAP and two from SAD. Both the MLAs of Lok Insaaf Party have serious criminal cases against them.
Jaskirat Singh and Parvinder Singh Kittna of ADR and Punjab Election Watch said the MLAs are public representatives and have money and muscle power, while appealing to the voters to choose their representatives carefully.
Average assets ₹13.34 cr
The average assets per MLA is ₹13.34 crore and 81% legislators (92) are crorepatis.
The three wealthiest MLAs in the outgoing Vidhan Sabha are Raminder Singh Awla of Congress (₹283 crore), followed by Rana Gurjeet Singh of the same party (₹169 crore), and Aman Arora of the AAP (₹65 crore). Interestingly, the said MLAs are also have the highest liabilities. Rana Gurjeet’s liabilities stand at ₹81 crore, Awla’s at ₹27 crore, and Arora’s at ₹15 crore.
Legislators with lowest assets are Bathinda Rural MLA Rupinder Kaur Ruby of the Congress (she switched from the AAP) with a declared wealth of ₹1.74 lakh; AAP’s Kulwant Singh Pandori
from Mahal Kalan (₹2.70 lakh) and Baljinder Kaur from Talwandi Sabo (₹3.65 lakh).
Party wise, the average assets per MLA of the Congress party stand at ₹14.88 crore, AAP’s come around ₹6.25 crore, SAD’s ₹9.80 crore, BJP’s ₹7.42 crore, LIP’s ₹10.14 crore, Punjab Lok Congress’ ₹48.31 crore), and Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt)’s ₹9.62 crore.
At ₹9.9 crore, Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu tops the list of MLAs with highest declared annual income, followed by Congress’ Raminder Awla (₹8.53 crore), and AAP’s Aman Arora (₹4.23 crore) as per the income tax returns filed by them.
38% are up to 12th pass
In terms of education, 43 MLAs (38%) have declared their educational qualification to be up to 12th pass. As many as 68 MLAs (60%) are graduate or above. Two MLAs are diploma holders. In total, 6 are 8th pass, 21 are 10th pass and 16 are 12th pass.