Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari on Thursday, 9 July demanded a White Paper on the Sardar Sarovar Project rehabilitation settlement, questioning the financial basis of the agreement struck with Gujarat and accusing Chief Minister Mohan Yadav of bypassing the Cabinet, the Opposition, and other key stakeholders in reaching the deal.

What Congress Is Demanding

Addressing a press conference at the party office in Bhopal, Patwari called on the state government to place all details of the agreement — including proposals put forward by the Centre, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh — in the public domain. He specifically questioned how the earlier liability of approximately ₹1,500 crore payable to Gujarat was originally calculated, and on what basis it has now been reduced.

'The Chief Minister must explain how the earlier liability of around ₹1,500 crore payable to Gujarat was calculated and how it has now been reduced. The details of the discussions held in Delhi should be placed in the public domain through a White Paper,' Patwari said.

He also challenged the government's assertion that Madhya Pradesh would save more than ₹1,200 crore under the revised arrangement, alleging that no consultation took place with the state Cabinet, the Opposition, organisations working for displaced families, or environmental experts.

The BJP Government's Position

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government had already defended the settlement on Wednesday, stating that the agreement would significantly ease the state's financial burden and resolve a nearly three-decade-old inter-state dispute over rehabilitation and resettlement costs under the Sardar Sarovar Project.

In an official statement, the government quoted Chief Minister Mohan Yadav as saying, 'A significant milestone has been achieved in strengthening water security and cooperative federalism. The consensus reached on the rehabilitation and resettlement expenses of the Sardar Sarovar Project will significantly reduce Madhya Pradesh's financial burden.'

The settlement was reached at a meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, attended by the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, according to the state government.

Key Numbers Behind the Deal

According to the state government, Madhya Pradesh's share of rehabilitation expenses has been reduced from 31.98% to 16.17% following the consensus. The state's financial liability has reportedly come down from approximately ₹1,500 crore to ₹231.80 crore, while Gujarat's share has been raised to 75%.

This comes amid a broader pattern of inter-state water disputes where financial accountability over resettlement costs has remained contested for decades. The Sardar Sarovar Project, a dam on the Narmada river, has been at the centre of one of India's longest-running displacement controversies, with affected families and civil society groups continuing to raise concerns about rehabilitation adequacy.

The Political Confrontation

The Congress has been pressing the government on state borrowings and expenditure, and has repeatedly sought White Papers on multiple issues. Patwari accused the BJP of deflecting financial scrutiny. 'The Chief Minister lacks the mindset and capability to address the state's key issues. Instead of answering the Opposition's questions on borrowings and expenditure, the government continues to attack its critics,' he said.

The BJP has not directly responded to the Cabinet-bypass allegation. With the Congress pressing for procedural transparency and the ruling party defending the deal's financial merits, the settlement is set to remain a flashpoint in Madhya Pradesh politics in the weeks ahead.