Congress attacks BJP on Delhi building collapse

In a scathing attack against the BJP over the Satya Niketan PG building collapse, the Congress on Monday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “PR balloon” had been deflated and termed the “four-engine Government” in Delhi a killing machine, claiming the lives of students.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP Government of evading accountability for the collapse and alleged that Prime Minister Modi uses insulting labels like “dimagi Naxal” and “naraaz phoopha” against those who ask questions.

The remarks came a day after the five-storey building in the congested area near Delhi University’s South Campus collapsed, killing seven people.

The opposition party demanded that action be taken against all those responsible. It also demanded that affordable accommodation be provided to students, a rent control act be brought for hostels and PGs and Rs 1 crore compensation be given to the family of those who have lost their lives.

Gandhi asked what the excuse for this helplessness was when Delhi has a “triple-engine” Government, saying it stems from a lack of intent.

“There is no accountability,” Gandhi said in his post in Hindi on X, using the hashtag “TINA”. Supporters of the prime minister often cite the “TINA” factor — There Is No Alternative — to argue that Modi is the only capable and indispensable leader for India.

The former Congress chief claimed that every time, the BJP Government follows the same shameful pattern -- no prevention before accidents, just grandstanding after them, and pinning the blame on a few low-level officers, while the real culprits remain unaccountable.

“The collapse of the building packed with students at Satya Niketan is no isolated tragedy. In the last four months, six people died in a similar disaster in Saidulajab, and a fire in Hauz Rani claimed 22 lives.

“Every time, lives, dreams, and aspirations get buried under rubble -- and every time, any real action is nowhere to be found. And when you demand accountability, the prime minister himself slaps you with insulting labels like ‘dimagi Naxal and naraaz phoopha’ — the intent being to shame, defame, and silence anyone who dares to ask questions,” he said.

For 12 years, this Government has spun people around with lofty talk about the whole world, but never addressed the real issues, Gandhi claimed.

Delhi has a “triple-engine” Government, so what is the excuse for this helplessness now, he asked. “The helplessness stems from a lack of intent — because where there’s no intent, there’s no accountability either.”

Addressing a press conference along with NSUI president Vinod Jakhar, Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar said it is unfortunate that there is no clarity even after 24 hours and the debris has not yet been fully cleared.

“There is no information on how many people are still trapped under the debris. The PG had 45 beds, it was Sunday, what if all the students were there? There were labourers working in the basement and students sit on the building’s steps as well. The police administration present there is not only failing to carry out relief and rescue operations properly, but is also engaged in the task of hiding the truth,” the NSUI in-charge said.

He alleged that the BJP has constructed five-star party offices in every district which don’t collapse, but bridges fall, roads break, and Government buildings collapse.   “There are such incidents where students have lost their lives. In one place, a fire broke out in a coaching centre. In another, a library flooded with water. In yet another, a student died from an electric shock. The question is-when will the BJP Government take responsibility and accountability for this?” Kumar asked.

Prime Minister Modi -- who addressed students at Delhi University’s Shri Ram College of Commerce on Saturday -- has time to send congratulatory messages to Italian Premier Georgia Meloni but no time to visit Satya Niketan to express his condolences, he said.

“The question that will be asked and it is Modi ji’s own words -- whether it is an act of God or an act of fraud. This is an act of fraud. The four-engine Government of the BJP is a killing machine -- it is your MCD, your mayor, your MLA, you have a Government in Delhi and an LG, you are the PM,” Kumar said.

He alleged that the Government has no value for the death of the students as the “BJP children” study abroad.

“The PR balloon that PM Modi inflated a day before, has been deflated by this act of God,” Kumar said, alleging corruption as the reason behind the collapse.

Questions will be asked of Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, MLAs, the mayor, councillors and the MCD commissioner, he said.

Questions will also be asked of Yogesh Singh, Vice Chancellor of Delhi University, who recites paeans in praise of Modi, Kumar said.

“We must avoid cover-up actions and ensure accountability. Narendra Modi went to SRCC for his PR, so why didn’t he go to Satya Niketan. A ‘Developed India’ will be built from an ‘Educated India’; India will not benefit from lies and PR. Therefore, through ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’, we are raising the voice of issues related to students and the education system,” he said.

Later, addressing another press conference, Congress leader Abhishek Dutt said the party demands that the Delhi Government should immediately dismiss the guilty officials from their jobs. The Government should immediately bring back Section 466A (of the Jan Vishvas Act), which was removed to provide protection to illegal constructions, he said.

“A survey should be conducted in Delhi and the list of all buildings in the dangerous category should be made public on the municipal corporation’s website,” Dutt said.

The building, which housed a boys’ paying guest accommodation, collapsed while repair work was underway. Police have registered a case against the building owner and others, while a magisterial inquiry has also been ordered.