Congress protests in Indore over alleged contaminated water deaths, demands resignations and judicial probe

Claiming that the consumption of contaminated water from the Narmada river, supplied through household taps in Indore’s Bhagirathpura locality by the Municipal Corporation, has resulted in 21 deaths so far, the opposition Congress staged a massive protest in Indore on Sunday.

The Congress reiterated its demand for the resignation of Madhya Pradesh Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya and Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava. As part of the protest, the party took out a ‘Nyay Yatra’ from Bada Ganpati Square to Rajwada Square. Several Congress MLAs and senior party leaders participated in the foot march.

Advertisement

Holding placards, the protesters also demanded the registration of FIRs against those responsible for the drinking water tragedy. Bhagirathpura falls under the Indore-1 Assembly constituency, represented by senior MP minister Kailash Vijayvargiya.

Addressing the ‘Nyay Yatra’, state Congress president Jitu Patwari said that over the past 25 years, the BJP government had spent Rs one lakh crore in the name of development in Indore, but failed to provide even a glass of clean drinking water to the people of Bhagirathpura.

“Chief Minister Mohan Yadav should apologise to Indore for the deaths of 21 people due to contaminated drinking water, as the Chief Minister is also the in-charge minister for Indore,” Patwari said.

Congress Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh demanded that the Indore drinking water tragedy be probed by a sitting judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, with public hearings held as part of the judicial inquiry. The former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister said that those found guilty should be given appropriate punishment to set an example for others.

Singh also targeted the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for holding Hindu conventions across the state to mark its centenary year. “Such events should have been postponed. After all, it is Hindus who have died in the tragic Bhagirathpura incident. Why do they want to set the country on fire once again?” he asked.

Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Umang Singhar, also attacked the BJP during the ‘Nyay Yatra’. He said BJP leaders spoke about Hindus in Bangladesh but showed no concern for Hindus who died due to contaminated drinking water in Indore’s Bhagirathpura area.

Singhar further alleged that no criminal case had been registered so far in connection with the drinking water tragedy.