Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday visited Indore to meet families affected by the recent water contamination tragedy in the city. Gandhi visited the Bombay Hospital to meet the victims of the tragedy as well as their family members. He later met and interacted with the families of the victims in the Bhagirathpura area as well.
The visit came after nearly two dozen people died in recent weeks in the Bhagirathpura area, allegedly after consuming contaminated water. The incident has triggered public anger and a sharp political exchange in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh. The Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee had earlier described Gandhi’s visit as “a gesture of solidarity”.
#WATCH | Madhya Pradesh | Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi interacts with the families of the victims of water contamination in Indore’s Bhagirathpura. pic.twitter.com/OK34YWSr34
— ANI (@ANI) January 17, 2026
What Rahul Gandhi said after meeting Indore victims’ families
Rahul Gandhi spoke to the press later, accompanied by the families of the victims. He called for accountability from those in the government who were “responsible for having this done”.
Blaming the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh for negligence, Gandhi alleged there is still no clean water in the affected area of Bhagirathpura.
“A bandaid has been put in place, which will last for a few days. As soon as the attention shifts away from this area, the situation will revert to how it was before. These people are simply asking for systematic work to be done and for clean water to be provided. They’re not asking for anything unreasonable. They want the government to fulfil its responsibility. I’ve come here to support them,” the Congress MP told the media.
“People died here, and people are not getting clean water here. I am here to highlight their issues. This is my job. It is my responsibility. I am here to help them and stand with them. You can call it whatever you want. Call it politics if you wish. I don’t care…,” Gandhi said, responding to claims that he was doing politics over the tragedy.
#WATCH | Indore, MP | Accompanied by the families of victims of water contamination in Bhagirathpura, Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, “I just met the affected people… It was said that they would give the country smart cities. This is a new model of a smart city… pic.twitter.com/uf6G3psle2
— ANI (@ANI) January 17, 2026
Gandhi further took aim at the state and central governments run by the BJP, mocking them over the tragedy. “It was said that they would give the country smart cities. This is a new model of a smart city where there is no drinking water, and people are being intimidated. This is the urban model. And this is not just happening in Indore. The same thing is happening in many cities. It is the government’s responsibility to provide clean water and control pollution. The government is not fulfilling any of these responsibilities,” he alleged.
BJP hits back at Congress
The state Chief Minister, Mohan Yadav, swiftly hit back at the Congress amid Rahul Gandhi’s Indore visit, alleging the party’s leaders were spreading poison in the society.
“Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is coming, and Phool Singh Baraiya has been spreading poison in society with his divisive statements, inciting social hatred. I hope that Rahul Gandhi will come and expel his MLA from the party. This would show that he has some respect for other sections of society as well. I condemn his statement,” the CM said.
#WATCH | Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav says, “Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is coming, and Phool Singh Baraiya has been spreading poison in society with his divisive statements, inciting social hatred. I hope that Rahul Gandhi will come and expel his MLA from the party.… pic.twitter.com/ud2vJRSN7M
— ANI (@ANI) January 17, 2026
The Congress today has also announced a large protest in Indore, blaming administrative lapses for the tragedy. Senior party leaders, including state Congress chief Jitu Patwari and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Umang Singhar, were scheduled to take part in the protest.
“A statewide protest will be organised across Madhya Pradesh on January 17, during which Congress workers will hold sit-ins at Mahatma Gandhi’s statues,” the Congress’s MP media cell said, as per IANS.
Gandhi’s visit raised political temperatures in the state, with the ruling BJP accusing the Congress of turning a tragedy into a political tool.
CM Mohan Yadav earlier said the government understood the pain of the affected families and had acted with sensitivity.
“It is unfortunate that Congress takes disasters as an opportunity for politics. We have taken the issue very seriously and felt the pain with sensitivity. I would also advise them to raise the issue with a sense of positivity. We would welcome your suggestions. But if you play politics during a disaster, the people of Indore won’t forgive you,” Yadav said while speaking at the AMRUT 2.0 programme in Indore.
Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, who represents the Indore-1 Assembly constituency that includes Bhagirathpura, also criticised the Congress for questioning Indore’s image as the country’s cleanest city.
Calling the situation a challenge, he said, “Challenges will come and go, and we will have to face them. Those who are protesting here in Indore, I can tell them what the BJP has done for the development of Indore.”