A Deadly Mix of Negligence and Spin

The recent collapse of a five-storey building in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area, which killed seven students, has sparked widespread outrage and demands for accountability from the BJP-led government. This tragedy not only highlights the systemic failures that have plagued India’s education sector but also exposes the politicization of such incidents by both parties.

The Congress, led by Kanhaiya Kumar, has launched a scathing attack on the BJP government, alleging corruption, administrative negligence, and a lack of accountability in connection with the building collapse. While these allegations are valid, they have been used to deflect attention from deeper issues plaguing India’s education sector, including inadequate infrastructure and substandard living conditions for students.

India’s education infrastructure is woefully inadequate, with students often forced to live in cramped and substandard conditions. The Satya Niketan building collapse is one of many incidents in recent years where student lives have been lost due to shoddy construction or neglect. Despite these tragedies, little seems to change on the ground.

The BJP’s response to this tragedy has been characteristic of its approach to governance – a mix of spin and deflection. Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent condolences to the families of the victims but failed to visit the site personally. Instead, he focused on his own PR machinery, sending congratulatory messages to foreign leaders while sidestepping the need to take responsibility for the collapse.

The Congress’s allegations about the BJP’s “four-engine government” being a “killing machine” are hyperbolic but not entirely unfounded. The fact that the BJP has built luxury party offices in every district, while public infrastructure continues to deteriorate, speaks volumes about its priorities. This is a classic case of “do as we say, not as we do.”

The real tragedy here is not just the loss of life but also the systemic failure that led to it. The Satya Niketan building collapse is a symptom of a larger disease – one that has been festering for decades and will require more than just PR stunts or token gestures to cure.

As the magisterial inquiry gets underway, it remains to be seen whether anyone will be held accountable for this tragedy. Will the BJP government take responsibility for its failures, or will they continue to deflect blame onto others? The incident also raises questions about the role of Delhi University and its Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh in all this. Singh has been accused of frequently praising Modi, which raises eyebrows given the university’s failure to address issues plaguing its students.

The Satya Niketan building collapse is a wake-up call for India’s education sector. It highlights the need for affordable and safe accommodation for students, better infrastructure, and a more responsive government that prioritizes accountability over spin. The tragedy also underscores the importance of a rent control law for student accommodations, something that has been demanded by the Congress and other opposition parties.

India’s education sector needs a fundamental overhaul, not just cosmetic changes. As the investigation unfolds, it is clear that the government must take responsibility not only for the lives lost but also for the countless students who continue to suffer due to inadequate infrastructure and neglect.

The people of India deserve better than a PR-driven response to this tragedy. They deserve accountability, transparency, and action. Only then can we hope to rebuild our education sector and create a safer future for generations to come.