Madhya Pradesh: Minister’s ‘Ghanta’ Response to Scribe’s Question Stirs Row
Vijayvargiya later regrets for uttering ‘objectionable word’, lab report confirms deaths due to contaminated water.
Bhopal: Amid deaths due to water contamination in Indore, Madhya Pradesh urban administration and local MLA, Kailash Vijayvargiya, has sparked a row with his controversial remarks while replying to a question by a scribe on the issue.
Mr. Vijayvargiya suddenly lost his temper while replying to questions by the mediapersons when a scribe asked why the medical bills of the patients have not been reimbursed by the state government so far.
“Leave it. Don’t ask free (unnecessary) questions”, Mr. Vijayvargiya retorted.
An argument broke out between the journalist and Mr. Vijayvargiya when the latter reminded him that he could not shirk his responsibility by dismissing his question as unnecessary.
The minister then lost his cool and uttered the objectionable word “ghanta” (a Hindi word, often used colloquially to dismiss something or someone as nonsense), before leaving the place.
The incident happened when he was touring the areas of Bhagirathipura, affected by contaminated water.
Bhagirathipura falls under Mr. Vijayvargiya’s Assembly constituency, Indore-1.
The minister later expressed regret when the issue escalated into a controversy.
In a post on X, he sought to explain his situation by saying that “My team and I have been continuously working to improve the situation in the affected areas for the last two days, spending sleepless nights. My people are suffering from contaminated water and some have left us. In this sad situation, I used a wrong word while responding to a question from the media. I express regret for this”.
Eight people have so far died due to suspected water contamination. However, three deaths have so far been confirmed officially.
Vijayvargiya, meanwhile, confirmed the death of nine people due to water contamination. However, unofficial reports put the death toll at 13.
Opposition Congress seized the opportunity to mount an attack on the state government.
Madhya Pradesh unit Congress president Jitu Patwari lambasted Mr. Vijayvargiya for becoming rude to the mediapersons, instead of replying to their questions, and demanded his resignation.
The Congress party in a post on X, said that “In Madhya Pradesh, people are dying due to contaminated water and when questions are asked (by journalists), BJP ministers are using thuggish language”.
Meanwhile, Indore district chief medical and health officer (CMHO) Dr Madhav Prasad Hassani said that the lab report on the water samples collected from the affected areas for tests has confirmed deaths of people due to contaminated water.
He said that water contamination was caused due to the leakage in the pipeline, providing drinking water to the affected area.
Mr. Vijayvargiya said that sewage contaminated the drinking water provided through the pipeline in Bhagirathipura area.
Officials said that 162 people, affected by water contamination, are currently undergoing treatment in different hospitals,
BJP MP from Indore Shankar Lalwani said that deadly virus was found in the water samples taken from the affected area.
