Sanghamitra Bhargav, son of BJP mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav, launched a scathing attack on the government during a debate at Indore’s Devi Ahilya University auditorium, accusing the government of corruption and unkept promises. He singled out the Bullet train project, claiming it had failed to progress “beyond the government’s PowerPoint presentations”.
A video of the same has been gaining traction on social media, with Congress leader Digvijay Singh heaping praise and calling Sanghamitra an “impressive speaker”.
‘Bullet train project couldn’t move beyond PPT’
“Crores of rupees have been spent, there have been scams in land acquisition, but the bullet train couldn’t move beyond the government’s PowerPoint presentation,” he remarked.
He further criticised the government’s claims about the “Kavach” safety technology, which was supposed to prevent train accidents. He underscored the ground reality, where in the last decade alone, over 20,000 people have lost their lives in rail accidents.
“When a train derails, not only do the coaches break, a mother’s lap becomes empty, a child’s future sinks into darkness, and an old father’s last hope is snatched away,” he highlighted the plight of those who lost their loved ones to train accidents.
Bhargav also reminded the government of its promise to modernise around 400 railway stations and turn them into airport-like facilities. He fact-checked the claim, saying, “Only 20 have been developed. Even there, complaints pour in that while flashy signboards have been put up, drinking water is overpriced and overcrowding remains the same.”
Sanghamitra went on to quote two reports – one CAG and another by ET.
“The CAG report of 2022 shows that out of the Rs 1.25 lakh crore sanctioned for station construction, 80 per cent of the projects are incomplete. 78 per cent of the budget was diverted for security,” he further said.
The son of the BJP mayor added, “According to a 2020 report by Economic Times, catering worth Rs 300 crore was given to a single company. The government says ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, but in the railways, the support of brokers is happening, privatisation is growing, and the public is getting destroyed.”
‘He was given the topic and he spoke’: MP CM
Madhya Pradesh CM Dr Mohan Yadav, who was also present at the event, said that Sanghamitra spoke “fearlessly” on the topic he was given.
He said, “I will also give a big round of applause to my nephew (Sanghmitra). Whatever I will say to him… There is still something left… but the way he has put forth his views fearlessly, whether it is the ruling party or the opposition, he will speak only what was his responsibility.”
“When he was given the topic of the opposition, he spoke. There is no prohibition in that, but I will definitely make some corrections in his topics…,” the CM further added.