‘Epicentre of misgovernance’: Rahul Gandhi blasts Madhya Pradesh govt over deadly water contamination

In an X post, the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition wrote, "In Indore, no water, only poison, and the administration slept like Kumbhakarna. There is mourning in every home, the poor are helpless—and on top of that, there are arrogant statements from BJP leaders. Those whose stoves have gone cold needed consolation; the government served arrogance instead.

"People repeatedly complained about the filthy, stinking water—so why was no action taken? These aren’t ‘trivial’ questions—they are demands for accountability."

"Clean water is not a favor; it’s a basic human right. And for the killing of this right, the BJP’s double-engine government, its careless administration, and insensitive leadership are fully responsible.

"Madhya Pradesh has now become the epicentre of misgovernance—sometimes deaths from contaminated cough syrup, sometimes children dying in government hospitals because of rats, and now deaths from drinking water contaminated with sewage. And whenever the poor die, Modi remains silent, as always," he added.

Officials said the contamination occurred after sewage from a toilet at a local police checkpoint seeped into the drinking water line, The Times of India reported.

The administration stated that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be issued across the state to prevent similar incidents.

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh minister Kailash Vijayvargiya stirred controversy after calling a reporter’s question on the incident “useless.”

When asked why responsibility was being placed only on junior officials, Vijayvargiya replied, “Oh, leave it, don’t ask useless questions.”

He later expressed regret, posting on X: “My team and I have been continuously working to improve the situation in the affected area without sleep for the past two days. My people are suffering from contaminated water, and some have left us; in this state of deep sorrow, my words came out wrong in response to a media question. For this, I express my regret. But until my people are completely safe and healthy, I will not sit quietly.”