By Special Correspondent
Bhopal: The Bhopal City and Rural District Congress Committees on Saturday held a joint press conference at the Rajiv Gandhi Auditorium of the Pradesh Congress office, raising serious concerns over the Indore toxic water tragedy and proposed changes to the MNREGA scheme.
Former minister P.C. Sharma, city district Congress president Praveen Saxena and state spokesperson Rahul Raj addressed the media. Saxena alleged that the deaths of 20 people and illness of over 1,000 residents in Indore’s Bhagirathpura due to contaminated water reflected “criminal negligence and administrative failure” of the BJP government. He announced a state-level protest march on January 11, from Bada Ganpati Temple to Rajwada Square, demanding the removal of the mayor, resignation of minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, Rs 1 crore compensation for victims’ families, and a judicial probe with culpable homicide charges.
Sharma criticised the proposed 60:40 cost-sharing ratio under MNREGA, claiming it would burden the debt-ridden state by ₹5,000 crore annually. Rahul Raj accused the Centre of undermining the right to work, warning of delayed wages and increased migration.
