Congress Legislators Stage Protest Over Water Contamination Deaths in Madhya Pradesh Assembly
Opposition Congress Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), under the leadership of Leader of Opposition (LOP) Umang Singhar, staged a significant protest within the premises of the Madhya Pradesh state assembly on Tuesday. The demonstration was organized in response to the tragic deaths linked to water contamination in Bhagirithpura, with the legislators vociferously demanding justice for the affected families and the immediate resignation of Urban Administration Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya.
Visual Protest with Muddy Water Bottles
In a powerful symbolic gesture, the protesting Congress MLAs held bottles filled with visibly muddy and dirty water, directly confronting the government over the public health crisis. The protest occurred on the second day of the ongoing Budget session, with the legislators gathering in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue before the House commenced its proceedings. They raised loud slogans against the state government, alleging negligence that led to the deaths of 35 individuals in Indore's Bhagirathpura area after they consumed contaminated water.
LOP Umang Singhar's Strong Accusations and Demands
Addressing the media, LOP Umang Singhar expressed profound sorrow and concern over the incident. "The death of 35 people due to drinking contaminated water in Bhagirathpura is extremely sad and deeply worrying," he stated. "The government is attempting to shirk its responsibility in this grave matter. We demand that Urban Administration Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya resign immediately on moral grounds and that stringent action be taken against the officials responsible."
Singhar emphasized that the Congress party is also demanding concrete and effective measures to ensure the provision of clean drinking water to all citizens across the state. He argued that the supply of contaminated and sewage-mixed water to the public is a matter of grave concern that requires urgent governmental attention.
Contrast Between Claims and Ground Reality
The Leader of Opposition highlighted a stark contradiction between official statements and the actual situation on the ground. "The Governor's address in the House on Monday made claims about providing clean water, but the reality faced by the people is completely different," Singhar asserted. He explained that the Congress party raised this critical issue to voice the concerns of the public and proposed that the government engage in a serious discussion regarding the water contamination tragedy.
To facilitate this, the Congress party formally requested an adjournment motion discussion specifically focused on the Bhagirathpura water contamination incident, seeking to bring the matter to the forefront of legislative debate.
Fundamental Right to Clean Water
Umang Singhar underscored the essential nature of access to clean drinking water, framing it as a fundamental right. "Access to clean drinking water is essential for every citizen, as not everyone can afford expensive RO water purifiers. Clean water is a basic right of the people," he declared. He further alleged that despite the tragic loss of lives, the government is deliberately avoiding a discussion on this critical issue within the Assembly, which he described as contrary to democratic values and principles.
In a firm concluding statement, the LOP made the Congress party's position unequivocally clear: "The Congress Party wants to make it clear that it will continue its struggle until the victims receive justice and the culprits are duly punished." This protest marks a significant escalation in the political response to the public health disaster, with the opposition holding the government accountable for both the tragedy and the subsequent handling of the crisis.
