Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari on Saturday, 3 October launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government over its rising debt burden, urging Union Home Minister Amit Shah to use his Bhopal visit to seek accountability from the state administration on its financial management.

The Debt Figures Congress Is Citing

Patwari claimed that Madhya Pradesh's outstanding liabilities have climbed to approximately ₹6 lakh crore, translating into a per-citizen debt burden of nearly ₹80,000. He further pointed to Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) data showing the state's public debt and liabilities rose from ₹2,30,572 crore in 2019-20 to ₹3,97,709 crore in 2023-24 — a jump of over 72% in four years.

The Congress leader said the state government raised ₹7,600 crore through market borrowing in September alone, and noted that the 2026-27 Budget has provided for borrowings of ₹1,06,190 crore with an estimated fiscal deficit of ₹71,458 crore.

Pending Utilisation Certificates and CAG Findings

Patwari also cited a CAG report indicating that utilisation certificates involving ₹22,049 crore were pending as of March 2024. Of this, he said, certificates amounting to ₹13,607 crore had remained uncleared for more than nine years — a figure he described as a serious governance red flag.

He demanded that the state government issue a detailed white paper covering its total debt, interest payments, expenditure priorities, and spending on VVIP facilities. 'People should know how much of the borrowed money has been used for genuine development and how much has gone into routine expenditure and VVIP facilities,' Patwari said in a statement.

Aircraft Purchases Draw Fire

The Congress leader specifically questioned the state government's decision to procure a Challenger 3500 jet at a cost exceeding ₹233 crore and an ACH160 helicopter estimated at around ₹225 crore, arguing that such acquisitions needed to be scrutinised in the context of the state's mounting fiscal liabilities.

Governance Concerns Beyond Finance

Patwari broadened his critique to encompass what he described as wider governance failures, raising concerns over reported deaths linked to cough syrup in Chhindwara, malnutrition cases in Balaghat, and alleged friction between state ministers and the bureaucracy.

Addressing Home Minister Shah directly, Patwari said: 'Union Home Minister Amit Shah should not limit his Madhya Pradesh visit to party and political programmes. As a senior Union Minister, he should also seek answers from the state government on its financial management, rising debt and issues concerning the people.'

This comes amid a broader pattern of Opposition parties using high-profile central government visits to amplify state-level accountability demands. The BJP-led state government had not issued a formal response to Patwari's allegations at the time of reporting. How the ruling dispensation addresses the debt and governance questions raised could shape the political narrative in Madhya Pradesh ahead of the next electoral cycle.