- Chaos in MP Assembly
Bhopal, The fourth day of the winter session of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly witnessed intense uproar on Thursday, December 19, as Congress MLAs staged protests against alleged corruption in the Jal Jeevan Mission. Arriving with tap spouts in hand, they raised slogans accusing the BJP-led state government of massive irregularities in the scheme. The commotion forced a 10-minute adjournment of proceedings.
Development Stalled in Cong Constituencies
Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar criticized the government, claiming that development work in Congress-held constituencies was being deliberately neglected. As a mark of protest, Singhar announced that Congress MLAs had decided to forgo their salaries. He stated that a formal letter regarding this decision would be submitted to the Speaker, with a request to utilize the withheld salaries for development in their constituencies.
Empty Promises: Taps with No Water
Highlighting issues with the Jal Jeevan Mission, Singhar alleged that the BJP’s promise to provide drinking water to every household remained unfulfilled. “Only air flows through the taps, not water,” he remarked, accusing the government of orchestrating a scam worth thousands of crores under the guise of this mission. Singhar further claimed that a “40% commission” culture pervaded the project, involving contractors, officers, and ministers.
Placards Demanding Accountability
During the session, Congress MLAs displayed placards with messages such as “Bring water to homes, end the struggle of sisters,” and “Why is the government far from its promises?” The slogans reflected frustration over the unfulfilled promise of ensuring water supply to every household, which remains a distant reality for many.
Allegations of Corruption and BJP’s Defense
Singhar took to Instagram to call the Jal Jeevan Mission a “big hoax,” accusing the BJP of prioritizing personal gains over public welfare. He claimed the scheme lacked clear objectives, with corruption rampant at all levels. Meanwhile, BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma dismissed the Congress protests, accusing the opposition of making baseless allegations. “Yesterday, they protested with alcohol; today, they are protesting with taps,” he remarked, adding that the BJP did not install taps for misuse.
Power Crisis in Bhind Sparks Debate
MLA Narendra Singh Kushwaha raised concerns about frequent power cuts in Bhind district, accusing officials of providing misleading information. While Minister Tulsi Silavat denied the allegations, BJP MLA Bhupendra Singh supported Kushwaha, urging the suspension of any official found guilty of negligence.
Serious Allegations of Illicit Liquor Supply
Congress MLA Vikrant Bhuria leveled grave accusations against the BJP government, alleging that liquor was being illegally transported from Madhya Pradesh to Gujarat. He pointed out that districts such as Jhabua and Alirajpur were awarded disproportionately high liquor contracts, suggesting this facilitated smuggling.
In response, BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma defended the government, asserting that liquor contracts were awarded according to established rules. He advised Bhuria to compare the current policies with those under the previous Congress-led government.
The Madhya Pradesh Assembly winter session continues to be marred by controversies, with Congress intensifying its attacks on the BJP over issues of governance, corruption, and mismanagement. Whether these allegations lead to actionable reforms or remain political rhetoric will be closely watched in the days to come.
