Uttar Pradesh: Ballia's BJP MP Virendra Singh Mast has instructed officials to use his development fund to organise "bhajan-kirtans'' at temples. The fund is meant for development work at the constituency level.
He said he has decided to generate "spiritual awakening" and directed that all small and large temples in the district's municipal council area should be surveyed. They are all asked to make arrangements for devotional songs including procuring musical instruments.
The politician said his Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLAD) fund can be used if there is a problem in organising "bhajan-kirtans" and arranging musical instruments for the temples, said the district information department.
Mast is a four-term Lok Sabha MP and explained his decision by saying: "In the current scenario, traditional values are disappearing." So "bhajans" and "kirtans", and the use of musical instruments for them, will boost cultural and religious activities, he argued. He said this will generate an "adhyatmik sanchetna", or spiritual awakening."
Every year, Rs 5 crore is given under the MPLADS, and MPs are asked to suggest to district collectors which development projects the money should be spent on. There is a set of guidelines on using the fund and it is meant essential for development work and building durable assets for the community. The MP fund is usually spent on building roads, schools, and clinics.