Politics · India Bureau
Fire tender misused to wash BJP MLA's house amid water crisis
A viral video has triggered a political row in Gujarat after a fire service vehicle was deployed to clean a former minister's residence during an acute municipal water shortage. The incident has raised questions about the misuse of public resources and administrative accountability.
LSN India ·

A video circulating on social media shows a fire tender stationed at the house of Bachubhai Khabad, a BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister, apparently being used for domestic cleaning purposes. The footage has sparked significant controversy, with critics arguing that deploying essential emergency services for private use represents a serious misallocation of public resources at a time when the municipality faces acute water scarcity.
The incident underscores growing concerns about the preferential treatment afforded to political figures and their families in accessing civic amenities. During periods of water shortage, municipalities typically impose restrictions on non-essential water use, urging citizens to conserve supplies. The deployment of a fire tender for domestic purposes contradicts such conservation measures and raises questions about equal access to services.
The video has intensified scrutiny of administrative practices in the state, with opposition parties and civil society groups demanding accountability. Local officials have come under pressure to explain the circumstances that led to the fire department's involvement in what appears to be a private household matter. The incident reflects broader debates in India about democratic accountability and the principle that public resources must serve the common good rather than individual interests, regardless of political status.