Mirzapur- In Uttar Pradesh's Mirzapur district, a case has come to light where several families from the Prajapati (Potter) OBC community have been deprived of drinking water. The borewell installed by local Birha singer Sargam Saroj was uprooted by the administration, forcing these families to now rely on muddy water from pits. This incident is mired in allegations of caste-based discrimination and governmental thuggery, with a viral video being shared widely on social media.

In a village in the district, Sargam Saroj had installed a borewell as part of her social work, which was being used by hundreds of Prajapati families. Sargam Saroj was recently sent to jail in connection with some case, after which the local administration allegedly uprooted the borewell out of malice. Now, these families have to extract water from nearby pits for drinking, which are filled with sludge and filth. In one viral video, a young woman is sharing her plight, saying that they have to travel 2-3 kilometers to fetch water. The faces of the women in the video clearly show despair, while some local men are visible in the background.

Local journalist Gaurav Kushwaha shared details of this on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating, "In the divine district of Uttar Pradesh under your rule, the Prajapati community is forced to drink water from pits. The situation in Mirzapur is such that Birha singer Sargam Saroj had a borewell installed, which several Prajapati families used for water. But after sending her to jail, such malice was shown that even these families' right to water was snatched away—the borewell was uprooted." He tagged Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the DM of Mirzapur, demanding action. This video is going viral rapidly, and several social activists have labeled it as 'thuggery.' Activists associated with Bhim Army and Azad Samaj Party are sharing this video.

Ajay Prajapati, founder of the Sarv Prajapati Shakti Trust, an organization of the Prajapati community, also condemned the incident: "In Mirzapur, #Prajapati_families are being deprived of their right to drinking water. If this incident is true, notice must be taken of it. Highly condemnable." He tagged the Mirzapur police.

Pressure is mounting on the DM Mirzapur and the Chief Minister's office, who have been tagged on social media, for action. Prajapati community activists are warning that if justice is not served, protests will intensify.

This incident highlights the broader issue of growing discrimination against OBC communities in Uttar Pradesh, where access to even basic rights is being restricted. It is a clear violation of Article 21 of the Constitution (Right to Life).

Who is Sargam Saroj?

Sargam Saroj is a renowned Birha singer from Mirzapur, who has been raising social issues through folk music. She has undertaken several social works in the village, including this borewell. The Birha troupe was operated by singer Saroj Sargam's husband, Ram Milan Bind. The singer has been singing songs for PDA (Backward, Dalit, Minority) for the past two and a half to three years.

Recently, following a case of objectionable remarks by Saroj Sargam on Hindu deities, the Mirzapur police had registered a case against her at the Madhihan police station. Additionally, a case was registered against the singer and her husband at the City Kotwali police station in March 2025. Last month, Sargam, along with her husband, and a total of 8 members of the troupe were arrested. Cases have been registered against Saroj Sargam in Mirzapur as well as in Madhya Pradesh and other states, totaling eight.