Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Tavleen Singh Questions Patriotism and Governance After Delhi Hostel Collapse
A hostel building for students fell down in Delhi, and seven students died.
One of them was an 18-year-old student named Arpit Jaj.
His father drove a taxi and worked hard to pay for his son’s education and room.
Writer Tavleen Singh says many students live in unsafe and crowded buildings.
She criticizes the media for focusing more on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s college event in Vadodara than on the deaths.
She also says corruption may allow unsafe buildings to operate.
Singh believes officials responsible for dangerous construction should face serious criminal charges.
She questions whether people called “dimagi naxals” might actually be patriots who want India to improve.
Tavleen Singh criticizes Prime Minister Narendra Modi for attending a Vadodara college event while seven students had died in a Delhi hostel collapse.
The article highlights the case of 18-year-old Arpit Jaj, whose taxi-driver father struggled to pay his son’s rent.
Singh says students in Satya Niketan live in unsafe buildings, cramped rooms, narrow alleys and poorly maintained surroundings.
She alleges that corruption involving officials, politicians, builders and paying-guest operators enables unsafe housing and excessive rents.
Singh calls for officials responsible for criminal negligence to face manslaughter or murder charges instead of repeated committees and inquiries.
- Who
- Seven students, including 18-year-old Arpit Jaj, died; columnist Tavleen Singh criticizes Narendra Modi, officials, politicians, builders and media coverage.
- What
- A paying-guest hostel collapsed, prompting criticism of unsafe student housing, alleged corruption and the government’s response.
- When
- The collapse occurred shortly before Modi’s Vadodara college event, described in the article as taking place the previous week.
- Where
- The collapse occurred in Satya Niketan, on Delhi University’s south campus, in Delhi; Modi attended an event in Vadodara.
- Why
- Singh argues that poor governance, alleged corruption and criminal negligence allowed unsafe student accommodation to operate, while media and political attention focused elsewhere.
Singh’s Critique
Government Approach As Portrayed
Political priorities
Singh’s Critique
Singh argues that Narendra Modi should have focused on the Delhi hostel collapse and the conditions faced by students rather than attending a celebratory college event.
Government Approach As Portrayed
As portrayed in the article, Modi proceeded with the Vadodara event and its Gen-Z-oriented presentation while the deaths received less political and media attention.
Responsibility for unsafe housing
Singh’s Critique
Singh alleges that politicians, officials, builders and paying-guest operators are linked through corruption that permits unsafe construction and excessive rents.
Government Approach As Portrayed
The authorities’ approach, as described by Singh, is to survey the debris, publicly reprimand lower-level officials and appoint committees to investigate causes and solutions.
Patriotism and dissent
Singh’s Critique
Singh argues that people labeled “dimagi naxals” and accused of sedition may be the patriots needed to challenge India’s failures.
Government Approach As Portrayed
The article says Modi has used the label “dimagi naxals” for people he blames for what is wrong with India, though it does not provide a detailed official justification.
- Reported deaths
- Seven students were reported dead in the hostel collapse.
- Victim highlighted
- Arpit Jaj was identified as an 18-year-old student.
- Location
- The hostel was in Satya Niketan near Delhi University’s south campus.
- Building condition
- The article describes cramped rooms, narrow alleys and hanging wires around student housing.
- Prime minister’s event
- Narendra Modi attended a college event in Vadodara while the collapse was being discussed.
- Media criticism
- Singh says mainstream news channels emphasized Modi’s Gujarat trip and largely ignored the students’ stories.
- Proposed accountability
- Singh advocates manslaughter charges, or murder charges where appropriate, for officials whose negligence causes deaths.
