Modi govt failed to provide clean water to the country, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said on Friday while targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Indore water contamination tragedy. He accused the Centre of remaining silent even as people died after consuming polluted drinking water.
Speaking through a post on X, Kharge said Prime Minister Modi frequently promotes the Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. However, he alleged that the Prime Minister did not respond when contaminated water claimed lives in Indore. According to him, silence at such a time reflects governance failure.
Notably, Indore recently retained its title as India’s cleanest city for the eighth consecutive year under the Swachh Sarvekshan survey. Yet, Kharge said residents in parts of the city now struggle to access safe drinking water. He described the situation as shameful and blamed the BJP’s “incompetence” for the crisis.
Furthermore, Kharge alleged that the BJP-led government has delivered only speeches and empty promises over the past 11 years. He said ministers often intimidate journalists instead of answering tough questions. According to him, the ruling party uses state machinery to hide misgovernance.
The Congress chief also claimed corruption has tainted major government schemes. He pointed out that funds under the Jal Jeevan Mission include allocations for water purification, yet contamination continues to occur. As a result, ordinary citizens suffer the most.
At least 10 people have died in the Bhagirathpura area of Indore due to a diarrhoea outbreak linked to contaminated water. Meanwhile, more than 1,400 residents have reported vomiting and diarrhoea over the past nine days.
Earlier, Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr. Madhav Prasad Hasani confirmed laboratory tests showed contamination in the local drinking water supply. Officials later found a leakage in the main pipeline near a police outpost, where a toilet had been constructed.
Kharge concluded that the Modi government has failed to ensure basic rights. Clean water and clean air, he said, are necessities, not political slogans.
