A fresh political controversy has erupted in Madhya Pradesh after BJP MP Gyaneshwar Patil said that ensuring clean drinking water is also the responsibility of the public, amid outrage over the deaths of at least 20 people in Indore due to contaminated water.
The remark came as Patil was asked about measures taken in his constituency, Khandwa, following the tragedy in Indore’s Bhagirathpura area. He said the incident should serve as a lesson for everyone, including municipal bodies, village panchayats and citizens. “It is not right to assume that the government will do everything. The public also has a responsibility,” Patil said, adding that people have been repeatedly advised to ensure water tanks and sources are cleaned.
Patil further said that providing clean water is a key commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and that taps have been installed in every household. If there are shortcomings, he added, citizens should raise them with the administration so they can be resolved collectively.
However, the statement drew sharp criticism from the opposition. Congress spokesperson Bhupendra Gupta accused the BJP of deflecting responsibility and called the MP’s remarks “irresponsible”. He questioned whether other civic duties, such as cleaning drains or checking expired medicines in hospitals, should also be left to the public. “If even drinking water is the public’s responsibility, then why does the government collect taxes?” Gupta asked, warning of statewide protests unless the BJP clarified its stand.
When NDTV pointed out that residents of Indore had allegedly informed authorities multiple times about poor water quality before the deaths occurred, Patil said the Chief Minister was closely monitoring the situation. He described the incident as “unfortunate” and said action was being taken against those responsible.
The crisis has been particularly damaging for Indore, which has consistently ranked among India’s cleanest cities for the past eight years. Following the deaths, the state government issued new administrative guidelines and announced action against erring officials, even as political tensions over accountability continue to rise.
