Chief Minister Mohan Yadav asked the audience to give a warm round of applause for Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava’s son, Sanghamitra, appreciating that he spoke on the subject allotted to him. The Congress party also welcomed his performance, with senior leader Digvijaya Singh calling him an “impressive speaker.”
At the Devi Ahilya University auditorium in Indore, Sanghamitra Bhargava took on the role of the Opposition during a debate competition. In front of his father, Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava, and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, he delivered a sharp critique of central government policies.
Opening his speech by questioning the bullet train project, he remarked that although crores of rupees were spent and land acquisition scams reported, the project still existed only in government presentations.
Congress leaders praised the speech, with Digvijaya Singh sharing on social media that Sanghamitra was an effective and impressive orator.
The atmosphere grew more intense when Chief Minister Yadav addressed the gathering after Sanghamitra. Rather than reacting negatively, the CM appeared to encourage his candour. He called for applause from the crowd and described the young speaker as fearless.
Sanghamitra did not stop at the bullet train issue. He also questioned the much-publicised “Kavach” railway safety system, noting that despite its promotion, over 20,000 people had lost their lives in train accidents over the last decade. In an emotional line, he said that when trains derail, not only do coaches break, but families are shattered and hopes are destroyed.
He further reminded the audience of the government’s promise to modernise 400 railway stations into airport-like facilities, pointing out that only 20 had actually been upgraded so far.
Pushyamitra Bhargava, a lawyer-turned-politician known for promoting Indore’s image as India’s cleanest city, played down any controversy about his son’s remarks. He explained that Sanghamitra had presented arguments from both sides as part of the competition and that the organisers recognised his performance. He also commented that the Congress often confuses competitive events with politics.
Chief Minister Yadav, too, brushed aside speculation of any tension, referring to Sanghamitra as his nephew and applauding his confidence. He added that the young speaker had simply spoken according to the role given to him in the debate, and while there may be scope for refining some topics, there was no restriction on what he presented.