Keep nation above ideology, says PM Modi while unveiling Swami Vivekananda’s statue at JNU

Nov. 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a life-size statue of Swami Vivekananda via video-conferencing at the campus of Jawahar Lal Nehru University, New Delhi on Thursday. The event was also attended by Union Minister for Education Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and JNU Vice Chancellor Jagadesh Kumar among others.

In his address, Prime Minister Modi made it clear that idea-sharing and the flow of new ideas need to be kept uninterrupted. He urged students to keep up the spirit of debate but also added that their ideology should not be above national interest. ‘One thing that has harmed our democratic system a lot is giving priority to ideology over national interest. Our ideology should be seen supporting not opposing nation in matters of national interest,’ PM Modi said during his address to students.

स्वामी विवेकानंद जी कहते थे- “मूर्ति में आस्था का रहस्य यह है कि आप उस एक चीज से ‘Vision of Divinity’ डेवलप करते हैं।”

मेरी कामना है कि JNU में लगी स्वामी जी की प्रतिमा सभी को प्रेरित करे और ऊर्जा से भरे।

यह प्रतिमा वो साहस दे, जिसे स्वामी जी हर व्यक्ति में देखना चाहते थे। pic.twitter.com/HwXL9Q7M93

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 12, 2020

Talking about India’s new National Education Policy, Prime Minister Narendra said: ” Swami Vivekananda wanted that education in the country should be such that it provides self-confidence to individuals and makes them Aatmanirbhar in every way. New National Education Policy is on the same line and has inclusion at its core.” Saying the youth of the country, the brand ambassador of India worldwide, the Prime Minister said: “Our youth represent the culture and traditions of India. The expectation from you is not just to be proud of the identity of India which has been going on for thousands of years, Rather, it is also to create a new identity of India in the 21st century.”

Matter of immense pride that a Swami Vivekananda statue is being unveiled in JNU. https://t.co/OvXTVpPWMe

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 12, 2020

The Vice-Chancellor of JNU Jagadesh Kumar said that Swami Vivekanand has been one of the most beloved spiritual leaders and intellectuals India has been fortunate to have. He always enthused the youth with the message of harmony, peace, freedom, and development of India. Vivekanand always inspired Indian citizens to take pride in Indian culture, civilization, and its industrious spirit.

Hours ahead of the inauguration of Swami Vivekananda’s life-size statue in the JNU campus by PM Modi, the JNU Students Union (JNUSU) has written an open letter to the head of the government over the appointment of Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar who, they claimed, “has left no stone unturned in destroying a university that produced Nobel laureates”. The letter, signed by JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh and others, goes on to ask “why are students of JNU criminalised and called anti-national while those praising Nathuram Godse find a high place in the Parliament?” The letter also hit out at PM Modi for constantly attacking former PM Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.