Edu without ‘dharma’ responsible for ‘white-collar terror’: Rajnath

Jaipur/Udaipur: Defence minister Rajnath Singh flagged on Friday the alarming trend of what he described as "white-collar terrorism", involving highly educated people engaging in antisocial and anti-national activities.Rajnath said the "white-collar terror network" behind the Nov 10 car blast in Delhi that killed 15 people illustrated the extent of the threat. "The perpetrators of the Delhi bomb blast were doctors. Those who write ‘Rx' on prescriptions now have RDX in their hands," he said at an event commemorating the 104th foundation day of Bhupal Nobles' University in Udaipur.
The defence minister said education should not be just about the pursuit of professional success but also the development of morality, ethics and character. "But we are witnessing a worrying pattern of educated people being drawn into anti-national activities. This happens when education is divorced from ‘dharma' (righteousness) and character."Clarifying his use of the word ‘dharma', Singh said he was not referring to temple, mosque or church visits, but to a sense of duty and responsibility. Education without moral grounding, he said, can become dangerous and may explain why some educated individuals are seen involved in crime. Singh stressed that the objective of education should go beyond employment and professional success, and must also shape ethics, morality and human character.Rajnath said contemporary challenges — from environmental crises to public health threats and digital ethics — required a multidisciplinary approach. He urged universities to promote research that produces practical, solution-driven outcomes.Addressing schoolchildren in the audience, Rajnath said, "The teacher inside me is alive. I came into politics by chance. A person is adorned by his deeds. Bigger the heart, greater the success. The feeling of self-respect should not turn into arrogance. There is a very thin line between the two."The minister said he was confident India would become self-reliant in defence manufacturing within the next two decades and the world's third largest economy by 2030.Chittorgarh MP CP Joshi, Udaipur MP Mannalal Rawat and Nathdwara MLA Vishvaraj Singh were also present at the function. After the programme, the defence minister visited the City Palace, where he was welcomed by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, a member of the former royal family.