he tragic collapse of a government school building in Rajasthan’s Jhalawar district, which killed seven young students and left several others injured, has sparked political outrage and demands for urgent accountability. Senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led governments, accusing them of gross negligence and misplaced priorities.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, called the incident “deeply disturbing” and questioned the government's failure to act on repeated complaints about unsafe school buildings.
“Innocent lives have been lost in Jhalawar because warnings were ignored. These were not just children—they were our future. Most of the victims were from Bahujan communities. Does their safety mean nothing to the BJP government?” Gandhi said in a strongly worded statement posted on social media. He demanded a fair and independent investigation, stressing that those responsible must be held accountable with the “strictest punishment possible.”
Locals Express Anger; Protests Intensify
The tragedy, which occurred during school hours at the Piplodi Government School, has ignited fury among local residents. Families of the victims, joined by villagers, staged road blockades and demonstrations outside SRG Hospital, demanding answers from the administration.
According to officials, a portion of the school building housing students of classes 6 and 7 collapsed just as children were preparing for morning prayers. Several students who survived the incident said they had earlier reported cracks in the walls, but their concerns were dismissed by teachers.
Kharge: "Shameful Face of BJP's Governance"
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge went a step further, calling the tragedy a reflection of the government's failure to protect the most basic rights of children.
“This is not just a tragic incident—it is a national shame,” Kharge said. “If a government cannot even ensure that the roofs of schools are safe, how can it talk about making India a global superpower?”
Kharge drew parallels with similar incidents in other BJP-ruled areas, including Delhi and Jodhpur, where school infrastructure has reportedly crumbled under neglect. “In one school, children were taken out of flooded classrooms by teachers. In another, children are forced to study under a tree because the building is on the verge of collapse. This is the reality behind BJP’s grand speeches,” he added.
He also criticized the ruling party’s focus on “political optics over people’s safety,” citing examples of crumbling infrastructure, frequent accidents, and what he described as a “systemic breakdown of governance.”
Demand for Structural Audit Across Schools
Following the outrage, Congress leaders have demanded a statewide structural audit of all government schools and public buildings, especially in rural and underdeveloped areas. “This is not about politics. It’s about saving lives. We cannot wait for another tragedy to act,” said a Rajasthan Congress spokesperson.
