Bhopal, Feb 20 (UNI) With people still mourning the deaths of 35 people due to contaminated drinking water, Madhya Pradesh Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya on Friday added insult to injury for the people of his Assembly constituency of Bhagirathpura in Indore, saying that many residents of the locality are “uneducated”, which makes it difficult for the municipal authorities to carry out the intended works.
Reportedly, at least 35 people have died due to the consumption of contaminated drinking water of Narmada river supplied by the Indore Municipal Corporation through taps in the households of Bhagirathpura.
Vijayvargiya‘s controversial and derogatory remarks intended against the already bereaved people of Bhagirathpura came amidst heated discussions on the Indore incident in the Madhya Pradesh State Assembly in its ongoing budget session.
Vijayvargiya compared Bhagirathpura to the Dharavi slums of Mumbai. He said Bhagirathpura is a smaller version of Dharavi.
The minister added that Bhagirathpura is an 80-90-year old locality and many residents are illiterate and uneducated.
He reasoned that it makes it very difficult for the municipal authorities and workers to carry out the intended works there.
Vijayvargiya, although, conceded that residents had lodged complaints in the past about contaminated drinking water and unhygienic conditions. He also admitted that the tragedy occurred due to negligence of authorities.
Bhagirathpura comes under the Indore-1 Assembly seat, from where Vijayvargiya is the MLA. He has been elected to the State Legislative Assembly seven times.
He is the state’s Urban Administration and Development minister, directly responsible for such matters. He has held the same portfolio in the past too.
Vijayvargiya has also been a Corporator in the Indore Municipal Corporation, and was also the first directly-elected Mayor of Indore from 2000 to 2005.
Meanwhile, the Congress reacted sharply against Vijayvargiya’s comments.
“Such comments not only show Vijayvargiya’s arrogance, but also are an insult to the 35 deceased and their families”, averred K K Mishra, chief media advisor to Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari.
“Vijayvargiya is a minister and a seven-time MLA, and it is a shame if he is calling his voters uneducated”, Mishra said.
“Through such remarks, Vijayvargiya is indirectly blaming the people only for the deaths in the water tragedy, which is in fact a direct result of the government’s failure and officials’ negligence”, Mishra charged.
