The Bhagirathpura locality in Indore turned into a high-security political battleground on Tuesday as top Congress leaders faced off against police to meet families devastated by a fatal contaminated water crisis. The visit, led by Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari and Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar, was marred by heated arguments and a massive security clampdown, highlighting the severe political fallout from an incident that has reportedly claimed multiple lives.
Police Fortress and Political Confrontation
Anticipating unrest after recent skirmishes between party workers, the Indore police transformed the entire Bhagirathpura area into a virtual cantonment. Authorities sealed all entry points with barricades and deployed Vajra riot control vehicles across the neighbourhood. When the Congress delegation arrived around 1:00 PM, security personnel initially blocked their path.
This led to a fiery verbal exchange between Umang Singhar and the police officials on duty. After a tense standoff, the Congress leaders eventually accessed the area through an alternative route. They proceeded to meet and console the grieving families of three victims who lost their lives due to the contaminated water.
Scathing Attacks and Major Demands
Addressing the media after the visit, Jitu Patwari launched a fierce offensive against the state's BJP government. He lambasted the administration for spending lavishly on routine meetings while "insulting" the victims with a compensation of only Rs 2 lakh. "This incident has brought a bad name to Indore. The mayor, the mayor-in-council, and the chief minister are 100% responsible," Patwari asserted.
He called on Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who also holds the charge of Indore's minister-in-charge, to publicly apologise by bowing his head. Patwari also demanded the immediate resignation of the city's Mayor and Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya. Furthermore, he escalated the compensation demand, seeking Rs 1 crore for the family of each deceased victim.
Patwari raised alarming questions about the official death toll, urging an investigation into his claim that the actual number of fatalities from water contamination in Bhagirathpura might be higher than 17.
Allegations of Failure and Suppression
Echoing the sentiment, Umang Singhar accused the government of using police force to conceal its administrative failures. "The government even stationed police in hospitals. Why is there so much fear? Is this insensitivity or total failure?" Singhar questioned. He urged the administration to focus on making Indore genuinely clean and safe instead of suppressing the opposition's voice.
Residents of Bhagirathpura shared their prolonged ordeal with the visiting leaders, stating they had been complaining about contaminated water supply for over two years without any corrective action from the Municipal Corporation.
Internal Pressure and Escalating Crisis
In a significant development highlighting the gravity of the situation, Akash Vijayvargiya, former MLA and son of Urban Administration Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, wrote to CM Mohan Yadav. Breaking from the government's stated position, he urged the Chief Minister to increase the ex-gratia payment for the bereaved families from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.
The political storm over the Bhagirathpura tragedy underscores a major public health failure and has intensified the pressure on the state government to provide accountability, transparency, and substantial relief to the affected families.
