BJP govt in MP shirks responsibility for deaths: Kharge

Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, was arrested. | Photo credit: The Hindu

Congress President and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday (10 September 2026) accused the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh of repeatedly dodging responsibility for deaths allegedly caused by spurious alcohol, toxic cough syrup and contaminated water, saying no one was held accountable.

“The BJP government in Madhya Pradesh has crossed the pinnacle of corruption. The state of apathy and negligence is such that now even human lives have no value,” Mr Kharge said in a post on X.

Referring to the death of 31 people in Sagar district after consuming poisonous liquor, he said 11 people are still fighting for their lives. “For some the son is gone, for some the father, for some the husband. But for the BJP government it is also just another ‘accident’,” he said.

Other incidents in the States

Mr. Kharge cited several other incidents to allege a pattern of administrative negligence. He mentioned the deaths of more than 27 children in Balaghat, 36 people allegedly due to contaminated water in Indore, 25 children after consuming toxic cough syrup and 53 women in childbirth in Sidhi in a single year.

“Whether the poison is in alcohol, water or medicine, every time the people of Madhya Pradesh pay the price with their lives,” he said.

He alleged that when people demand justice, the BJP government responds with water cannons and tear gas while “no one is held accountable and no one is punished”.

Published – 10 Sep 2026 23:13 IST