Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday questioned the government over the shortage of safe student hostels and sought an update on the investigation into the Satya Niketan building collapse in Delhi, which killed seven people earlier this month.
Gandhi raised the issue a day after meeting the family of 21-year-old Arpit Jaj, a student from Dewas in Madhya Pradesh who was among those killed when a five-storey building being used as a private hostel collapsed in Satya Niketan on September 6. Gandhi invited Jaj’s family on stage during his youth outreach programme, ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’, in Indore on Saturday.
‘What was his fault?’
Sharing photographs of the interaction on Sunday, Gandhi said Jaj’s family was seeking accountability for the death of their son.
“‘What was that innocent soul’s fault?’ This is the question being asked, with tear-filled eyes, by the family that lost their son, Arpit Jaj, in the Satya Niketan tragedy,” Gandhi said in a Hindi post on X.
The Congress leader argued that students would not have been compelled to stay in potentially unsafe accommodation if adequate hostel facilities were available. He also alleged that failures to enforce safety standards had put students’ lives at risk.
Gandhi accused the “system” of irresponsibility and corruption, and said Jaj’s family wanted responsibility to be fixed so that other parents did not have to endure a similar loss.
“I have a direct question for the system: Why aren’t new, safe hostels being built? Why are students forced to live in unsafe PGs? What is the status of the investigation into the Satya Niketan incident?” he asked.
Seven died in collapse
Seven people were killed in the September 6 collapse, including five students. The incident has brought the safety of private hostels and paying guest accommodations in Delhi’s major student hubs under scrutiny.
The Delhi High Court has since sought a high-level investigation into the incident and questioned civic authorities over enforcement of building regulations. The court has also stressed the need to expand hostel facilities for students coming to the Capital for education.
The building owners have been arrested, while five Municipal Corporation of Delhi officials were suspended following the collapse. Authorities have also announced inspections and structural audits of PG accommodations in the city.
Raises women’s hostel shortage
Earlier on Sunday, Gandhi separately highlighted the shortage of hostels for female students, citing his interaction with a young woman at the Indore programme.
“The government has money to light diyas — why not for our hostels?” Gandhi quoted the student as asking.
According to Gandhi, the student had moved from a village to Indore for her studies but was forced to live in a PG because she could not find hostel accommodation. He said students had to contend with high rents and concerns over personal safety while pursuing their education.
Gandhi claimed that many women were forced to discontinue their studies because suitable accommodation was unavailable. He also questioned whether housing allowances available to students had kept pace with inflation.
“Narendra Modi ji — do you have any answer to that little girl’s question?” he asked.
‘System versus students’
At Saturday’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme, Gandhi had framed his address around what he described as “system versus students”, accusing institutions of failing to adequately address concerns surrounding education, recruitment and employment.
He alleged that the “system” was uncomfortable with students who questioned authority and sought answers about examinations, recruitment and opportunities.
The Congress leader also used the event to raise wider concerns about educational infrastructure, scholarships, teaching vacancies and student accommodation, making these issues part of his broader outreach to young voters.