This is the urban model,” Mr. Gandhi said, adding that similar conditions prevailed in several other cities. Later, Mr. Gandhi took to X to allege that BJP governments evade accountability in such tragedies. “The BJP’s double engine government’s new smart city model—poison in the water, poison in the air, poison in the medicine, poison in the land. Meanwhile, the BJP targeted Congress MLA Phool Singh Baraiya, who accompanied Mr. Gandhi during his visit, over his recent remarks allegedly linking rape to a woman’s appearance. Slamming Mr. Baraiya’s remarks, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav asked Mr. Gandhi to expel him from the party.

Source: The Hindu January 17, 2026 07:39 UTC