From the Urdu Press: ‘Indore water deaths an outrage, BJP must rein in Vijayvargiya’; ‘Candidate chori in Maharashtra civic polls must be probed’

Flagging the water contamination crisis in Bhagirathpura area in Indore city in Madhya Pradesh, which resulted in deaths of at least 10 people and hospitalisation of over 200, the Hyderabad-based Siasat, in its editorial on January 2, describes it as a grave issue relating to public health and drinking water. “It is disturbing that in this age the BJP-led MP government has failed to ensure safe water for the people of a city like Indore. The BJP has been ruling the state for over two decades, and yet it seems it has not been able to address such fundamental public issues effectively,” it says. “There have been reports that affected residents of Indore have also struggled to get proper medical care and that the government has failed them on this front too.”

The editorial states that while the Indore deaths due to water contamination is unfortunate, the conduct of veteran BJP leader and state Urban Administration Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya over the tragedy is “outrageous”. Vijayvargiya is also a local MLA. “When a journalist questioned Vijayvargiya about the Indore water deaths and authorities’

accountability, he dismissed it and used a derogatory remark, which does not behove a minister. While Vijayvargiya has been embroiled in several controversies over his various objectionable remarks in the past, he has hit a new low this time on a critical issue of public health emergency in his home turf,” the edit notes.

The daily says Vijayvargiya’s comment is “condemnable”, even as he expressed regret after the row snowballed. “This incident betrays the minister’s mindset, who does not consider himself accountable to people even on such serious public issues despite being a legislator,” it says. Indore has been ranked among the cleanest cities in India and a recipient of the cleanliness awards. And, still, if several people have died due to mixing of sewage into drinking water, accountability must be fixed not only on junior officials, but also legislators and ministers, the editorial says, noting that the state government has removed only a few municipal officials. “The BJP leadership and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav should rise to the occasion and reprimand Vijayvargiya besides reining him in.”

URDU TIMES

Referring to the January 15 Maharashtra civic body polls, where 69 candidates have been elected unopposed in different municipal corporations even before voting, the Mumbai-based Urdu Times, in its January 5 leader, points out that this is a stunning development as local body polls are usually marked by close, raucous and multi-cornered contests. Of these candidates who won without a contest, 68 belong to the ruling Mahayuti with the BJP emerging as the biggest beneficiary with 44 wards, followed by the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena with 22 and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP with 2 seats. “The unprecedented development seems to have even surprised the Maharashtra State Election Commission, which has sought reports from local officials, asking them not to declare the results of these wards as of now,” the editorial says, adding that the row has erupted months after Rahul Gandhi launched his campaign against “vote chori” in various elections including the November 2024 Maharashtra Assembly polls.

The daily notes that the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has cried foul over the Mahayuti’s 68 unopposed wins, with the court being also moved in the matter. “The big question remains, how did so many Opposition candidates pulled out of the fray. There might have been inducements. But each withdrawal must be brought under scanner to ensure that this entire case is probed thoroughly. It is not a question of one or two seats, but en masse withdrawal of the Opposition candidates,” the edit says. “It is a subversion of democracy and elections – and it short-circuits public mandate. It seems the issue of ‘vote chori’ has now turned into ‘candidate chori’, which must be probed by our leading agencies.”

SIASAT

Highlighting the intensifying conflict in West Bengal between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the principal Opposition BJP in the run-up to the March-April Assembly elections, Siasat, in its January 1 editorial, says that the Mamata Banerjee-led party and the BJP have unleashed no-holds-barred attacks on each other. “Their exchanges have turned personal now, even though a political fight must always be about a contest of views and ideologies,” it notes. During his recent visit to Bengal, Amit Shah slammed the Mamata dispensation by accusing it of abetting infiltration of Bangladeshis for its vote bank, the edit says. “It is a grave allegation levelled by the Union Home Minister that pertains to national security. The question is, why Shah has then not taken legal action against CM Mamata Banerjee?”

The daily points out that the issue of infiltration has been a part of the BJP’s plank in various recent elections including the Bihar polls. “The Modi government has been in power for 12 years. If infiltration into the country is still taking place, it betrays the failure of the Centre, which has not been able to curb it,” the edit states. Responding to Shah’s accusation, Mamata has also questioned his performance, attacking the Centre for failing to prevent terror attacks in the country, it says, adding that the BJP then went after her hammer and tongs. “Such trading of allegations and counter-allegations by parties and leaders vitiate the political atmosphere of the country. Political and electoral fights should be based on competing ideas and proposals — they must not hit a low, debasing our politics.”