Newslaundry:
National: Wednesday, 30 December 2015.
In the first
four articles of this Right to Information (RTI) investigation series, it was
detailed how Members of Parliament and ministers in the current as well as the
former government milked public sector undertakings (PSUs) for ads,
sponsorships and their pet causes. RTI responses also detailed allegations of
corruption against a Bharatiya Janata Party and a Congress MP.
In this part,
RTI responses show how many MPs current as well as former across parties have
made it a routine practice to write letters to Chairmen and Managing Directors
of PSUs seeking funds and sponsorships.
In a majority
of these cases, these MPs were asking for funds for newspapers and
non-government organisations with which they are directly associated.
Patasani,
five-time BJD MP from Bhubaneswar, dons the hat of both an MP and a marketing
manager for Vishwamukti Publications, of which he is the chief editor as well
as chairman. Patasani writes almost habitually to different PSUs for
sponsorships; he also attaches tariffs and gives suggestions on the various sponsorship
options PSUs can opt for.
In last three
years, Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) sanctioned Rs 12 lakh after his
requests. Apart from GAIL, Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL),
National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and National Hydroelectric Power
Corporation National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) sanctioned 15 lakh,
10.5 lakh and 6 lakh, respectively to this BJD MP, according to RTI responses.
More than 50
of his letters (on his letterhead to different PSUs) seeking funds for either
advertisement in the magazine run by Vishwamukti, or some event organised by
them were assessed through RTI queries.
In one case,
he asked for sponsorship of a book published by Vishwamukti. In a letter to
NTPC Chief, he described the book being published and said, “... I would
request your good self that the publication of the above book (5000 copies) in
hindi be sponsored by NTPC Ltd, GOI... Necessary orders may be given to your
concerned office for issuing sponsorship of Rs 2 lakhs in favour of
Vishwamukti...”
In another
letter to NTPC Chief, Patasani writes to CMD of Central Coalfields Limited
(CCL) on January 18, 2013 saying, “...Please recall our discussion OL meeting
at Chennai on 17.01.2013 regarding the above cited subject [Release an Advt for
Rajbhasha & Tourism Special (Hindi)]...I am closely associated with the
institution [Vishwamukti] since its inception as chairman and chief
editor...You are requested to release an advert [Tariff enclosed] for Rajbhasha
& Tourism...”
Our calls and
mails to Patasani went unanswered.
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