‘Clean Water Is A Right, Not A Favour’: Rahul Gandhi Blasts MP Govt
Women queue to collect water in Mumbai (Representational image: imageBROKER/dad fotos/ Alamy)
The Indore water crisis has ignited a sharp political clash, with Lok Sabha Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi unleashing a scathing attack on the BJP-led Madhya Pradesh government, accusing it of enabling a “murder of the right to life” through negligence and apathy. In a fiery post on X on Friday, Gandhi condemned the administration’s failure to address contaminated water supplies, labeling it a grave violation of citizens’ fundamental rights.
“Indore’s taps did not deliver water but ‘poison’, while the administration slept ‘like Kumbhakarna,’” Gandhi wrote, highlighting the dire situation in the city. He expressed deep sorrow for the affected families, particularly the poor, who faced official indifference. “Grief had seeped into every household, particularly among the poor, who were left defenceless in the face of official indifference. Those whose hearths have gone cold needed compassion; instead, they were met with arrogance,” he added, targeting BJP leaders’ responses.
Gandhi pointed out that residents had repeatedly warned about foul-smelling, contaminated water, yet authorities ignored the alerts. He demanded answers: “How did sewage mix with drinking water? Why was the supply not immediately shut off? And when will accountability finally be fixed?” Emphasizing the seriousness, he stated, “These are not ‘freebie’ questions. Clean water is not a favour — it is a fundamental right to life.”
Indore, renowned as India’s cleanest city, is now battling a public health emergency. In Bhagirathpura, discoloured, bitter-tasting water from municipal pipelines caused widespread illness, with hundreds suffering vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration, and high fever. Hospitals are overwhelmed, with at least nine deaths reported and around 200 patients admitted. Preliminary investigations indicate sewage infiltrated the drinking water network due to infrastructure failures, sparking waterborne diseases.
Placing the crisis in a broader perspective, Gandhi called Madhya Pradesh an “epicentre of administrative failure,” citing past tragedies like deaths from contaminated cough syrup, fatalities in government hospitals, and now polluted water incidents. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of remaining silent when the poor suffer, underscoring systemic neglect.
As probes continue, Indore residents are demanding accountability, safe water, and assurances that such failures won’t recur. Gandhi’s critique amplifies calls for urgent reforms in water management and public health, highlighting how administrative lapses endanger lives. The incident exposes vulnerabilities in urban infrastructure, urging governments to prioritize clean water as a basic right. With elections looming, this controversy could intensify political debates on governance and welfare.
