Swear on your wife: UP minister to Samajwadi Party MLA claiming poor water supply

"Swear on your wife", Uttar Pradesh Minister Swantantra Dev Singh said to Samajwadi Party MP MLA Mohammad Fahim Irfan after the latter alleged irregularities and improper implementation of the Centre's Jal Jeevan Mission, during the Question Hour of the state Assembly on Tuesday.

A heated exchange took place during the Question Hour between Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh and SP MLA Fahim Irfan.

The drama unfolded after Fahim Irfan alleged that the water supply scheme under the Jal Jeevan Mission was not being implemented properly in several villages. He claimed that in many areas, water supply had not reached households and water tanks were in poor condition, with some even collapsing. He further accused the minister of providing false information about the department’s work.

Reacting sharply, Minister Swatantra Dev Singh rose from his seat and challenged the MLA to "swear on your wife" if no work had been done under the scheme. Singh asserted that water was indeed reaching villages as planned. His remarks sparked an immediate reaction in the House.

Undeterred, Irfan reiterated his allegations, stating that there was no water supply in several districts, especially in western Uttar Pradesh. He told the minister to verify his claim by speaking directly to village sarpanchs (village heads). "Choose any district of western UP; you will see there is no water supply to the villages. If this is not true, I will resign," Irfan declared.

The verbal duel highlighted the ongoing political tension between the ruling BJP and the Akhilesh Yadav-led SP over the pace and effectiveness of government schemes in rural areas. The Jal Jeevan Mission, launched by the central government, aims to provide tap water connections to every rural household by 2024. In UP, the state government has repeatedly claimed significant progress under the scheme.

However, opposition parties, including the SP, have often accused the government of exaggerating achievements and failing to address ground realities. Tuesday’s heated moment reflected the depth of disagreement on the issue, with both sides standing firm on their claims.

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