A day before Rahul’s visit, Patwari meets ex-LS speaker Mahajan over Indore deaths

Bhopal: A day before Lok Sabha LOP Rahul Gandhi's visit to Indore, state Congress president Jitu Patwari created political tremors when he met former Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan at her residence on Friday morning. Everyone wondered why the state Congress chief went to meet the BJP's former MP from the city.After the meeting, Sumitra Mahajan said, "Jitu Patwari works well. He comes to meet me occasionally and he came today also." Mahajan said that Jitu Patwari asked for her guidance about the present water contamination crisis in the city.
Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to reach Indore on Saturday and meet families of the deceased victims of the Bhagirathpura water contamination tragedy. The Congress had applied for permission for a public meeting which was refused by the state administration. Jitu Patwari had also asked for a meeting with all corporators' of the Indore Municipal Corporation which has also been disallowed. Sumitra Mahajan said, "He (Patwari) said that the Congress being in the opposition will protest. But the solution must come rising above party lines. We must work together to find a solution, he told me," Sumitra Mahajan explained. "I said yes, in a democracy, the opposition must also do its work. We were also in the opposition and protested on various issues," she recollected. The former Speaker of the Lok Sabha said that she reminded Patwari that there are institutions like the IIT, IIM and GSITS (Shri Govindram Seksaria Institute of Technology and Sciences) where they have technical experts. "I said there are many institutions in Indore where technically qualified people can help. In fact, the govt should be doing this. I said that the Congress can sit together, make a list of recommendations and send it to the govt. I did not give any wrong advise," Mahajan quipped. Asked if Rahul Gandhi will be coming to meet her during his visit on Saturday, Sumitra Mahajan said, "No. There was no discussion about that. But if anyone wants to come and meet me, I am here." Patwari told reporters, "We discussed the situation of water supply in Indore. Now the NGT has also said that 70% of water in MP is contaminated and undrinkable. We must rise above party and politics to ensure that a glass of safe drinking water reaches the people of this city. There should be no politics over water. The dialogue with former Lok Sabha speaker was very positive."