Speaking at an event in Udapipur, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh warned that rising “white-collar terrorism” showed education without ethics can be deadly, citing the Red Fort car bomb blast, where three doctors were arrested.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday flagged what he described as a disturbing rise of “white-collar terrorism” in the country, warning that higher education without values can turn dangerous for society.
Speaking at the 104th foundation day of Bhupal Nobles’ University, Singh cited the November 10 car bomb blast near Delhi’s Red Fort to underline his point. He noted that the accused in the attack were qualified doctors, calling it a stark example of how education alone does not guarantee ethical conduct.
“Today, an alarming trend of white-collar terrorism is emerging in the country. Highly-educated people are working against society and the country. The perpetrators of the (Delhi) bomb blast were doctors – those who had degree in hand and RDX in their pockets. This highlights the need for knowledge to be accompanied by values and character,” he said.
The explosion involved an explosives-laden i20 car driven by Dr Umar-un-Nabi and resulted in the deaths of 15 people. Officials later uncovered a white-collar terror module, leading to the arrest of three doctors — Muzammil Ganai, Adeel Rather and Shaheena Saeed — among others.
“The purpose of education is not only professional success but also the development of morality, ethics and human character. Any education system that cannot fulfil this objective, which does not impart humility, a sense of character and ‘dharma’ (righteousness) along with knowledge, is incomplete,” the Defence Minister said.
Singh said terrorists are not necessarily illiterate and can hold university degrees, but often lack wisdom and values.
“When I talk about religion, it should not be associated with going to the temple, mosque or church for prayer. Religion is a sense of duty. Education devoid of religion and morality will not be useful to society, and sometimes it can even prove fatal. This is why educated people are sometimes found to be involved in crimes,” he added.
