Tavleen Singh writes: Who are the real patriots?

A fifth columnist may be lurking in the Prime Minister’s inner circle, according to author Tavleen Singh. The suspicion arose when she observed Prime Minister Modi enthusiastically participating in a college event in Vadodara, complete with a rendition of We Will Rock You. However, the lyrics of the song could have been a cause for concern.

The song, from 1977, was a far cry from the rebellious spirit of her generation and did not reflect the anxieties of the present day. Modi's presence at such an event, when a PG hostel had recently collapsed in Delhi University, claiming the lives of young students and their dreams, raises questions about his judgment. Among the deceased was Arpit Jaj, an 18-year-old whose father worked tirelessly to send him to college and struggled to afford the exorbitant rent for a PG.

Sadly, Arpit's story, highlighted in Barkha Dutt's Mojo Story, was largely ignored by mainstream media in favor of covering every moment of Modi's trip to Gujarat, as if it were the most important news. Instead of focusing on the poor living conditions of the students, most news channels reported the Prime Minister's visit, which, if they had stayed with the building collapse, could have led to a more urgent discussion on the corruption that caused the tragedy.

Singh highlights the dire living conditions of the students in Delhi, where they are forced to live in cramped, poorly ventilated, and insecure spaces, like those depicted in pictures from PEEK TV. These conditions make it impossible for students to learn, think, or dream, ultimately hindering their chances of competing with students in other countries who have adapted to technological advancements.

The collapse of the PG hostel in Delhi has exposed the widespread corruption and negligence in governance, with various entities colluding to allow builders to disregard safe planning regulations. Despite the recurring disasters, the authorities often only issue stern warnings to low-ranking officials, and the issue is left to be addressed by committees that rarely yield meaningful results.

Singh calls for a change in approach, suggesting that officials responsible for allowing such unsafe structures should be charged with manslaughter, rather than relying on committees and inquiries that fail to bring about real change.