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UNIV’sSHOULD NOT BECOME SPACES FOR IDEOLOGICAL CONFLICT: SHAH
YB WEB DESK. Dated: 5/20/2022 3:32:23 PM
* NO ONE REMEMBERS THOSE WHO DESTROYED UNIVERSITIES OF NALANDA, TAXILA
* BEFORE PM MODI, INDIA DID NOT HAVE DEFENCE POLICY
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New Delhi, May 19 Universities should be a platform for exchange of views and not become spaces for ideological conflict, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday. He was addressing the inaugural session of a three-day international seminar on “Revisiting The Ideas of India from ‘Swaraj’ to ‘New India'” at the Delhi University. Shah said that if a particular ideology is a cause for strife, it is “not an ideology and definitely not India’s ideology”. “Universities should become a platform for exchange of views and not become spaces for ideological conflict. An ideology progresses through ideas and discussions. “No one remembers those who destroyed the universities of Nalanda and Taxila. It is said that the library of Nalanda University burnt for months. But the thoughts from those universities continue to live on even till now,” he said addressing the students. He also advised the youths to understand their duties towards the country and spoke about India’s defence policy. India did not have a defence policy before Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power and even if it existed, it was a “shadow” of the foreign policy, Shah said. Referring to the anti-terror surgical strikes and airstrike, the minister said that these actions showed the meaning of India’s defence policy. “Before Prime Minister Modi, India did not have a defence policy. Even if it existed, it was a shadow of foreign policy. “Earlier, terrorists would be sent to attack us and there were similar attempts to do so with the Uri and Pulwama attacks. But with the surgical strikes and airstrikes, we showed what the defence policy meant,” he said. The home minister also stressed that India “worships peace”, “wants peace” and has cordial relations with every country in the world. “India is a geo-cultural country and the people will not understand the idea of India until they understand this,” he said. Noting that DU has been a witness to various struggles and how they reached their logical conclusion, he hoped that the university would continue to do so. “For me, it is a matter of pride that DU has invited me to present my views. I was in a dilemma for a couple of minutes about whether I should go or not, but then I decided that I have to go and I should talk to people. ”It’s a big achievement that you have managed to retain your relevance even after 100 years… From Hari Singh Gour (the first VC of DU) to Yogesh Singh I congratulate them all,” he said.