Congress Criticizes Indore Collector Over Water Contamination Incident

Political Tensions Rise in Indore

The Congress party has expressed strong disapproval of the Indore collector's visit to the local office of the National Volunteer Organization, labeling him as a BJP supporter. Indore, known as the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh and recognized as the cleanest city in the country for nearly a decade, is currently in the spotlight due to a water contamination incident that has resulted in the deaths of seven individuals in the Bhagirathpura area.

Jitu Patwari, the president of the Madhya Pradesh Congress, stated on Thursday that Collector Shivam Verma is acting like a BJP worker. According to Patwari, Verma visited the Sudarshan office in Pant Vaidya Colony alongside Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav and discussed various issues, including the water crisis in Bhagirathpura, with RSS Malwa region propagandist Raj Mohan Singh.

Social Media Reaction and Accountability

Images and videos from this visit have gone viral on social media. Patwari addressed his colleagues in Sanver, asserting that Bhargav took Verma to the RSS office, indicating that the collector is not functioning as an administrative officer but rather as a BJP member. He emphasized that if officials visit political party offices while on duty, Congress workers will ensure they are held accountable for their actions.

Patwari urged the collector to focus on his responsibilities, meet with the chief secretary, and engage in discussions with ministers and officials. He highlighted the dire situation in Indore, where residents are suffering from contaminated water and corruption levels are alarmingly high, while the collector appears to be prioritizing his allegiance to the BJP over his duties.

Government Response to the Crisis

Despite repeated attempts, Verma could not be reached for comments. Amid claims from residents that the contaminated water has led to 17 fatalities, the Madhya Pradesh government distributed compensation to 18 affected families on Tuesday. Patwari himself mentioned in a post that the death toll could be as high as 20.

Meanwhile, state minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, who stirred controversy with his remarks regarding the deaths caused by contaminated water, met with BJP organizational general secretary Hitanand Sharma at the party office on Thursday. Following this meeting, Vijayvargiya did not address the media.