Udaipur, Jan 02: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that an alarming trend of white-collar terrorism is emerging in the country, wherein highly-educated people are engaging in anti-social and anti-national activities.

Singh pointed at the November 10 car bomb blast near the Red Fort in Delhi, where the perpetrators were found to be doctors.

“Today, an alarming trend of white-collar terrorism is emerging in the country. Highly-educated people are working against society and the country,” Singh said at the 104th foundation day event of Bhupal Nobles’ University here.

“The perpetrators of the (Delhi) bomb blast were doctors – those who write ‘Rx’ on prescriptions, yet have RDX in their hands. This highlights the need for knowledge to be accompanied by values and character,” the defence minister said.

“The purpose of education is not only professional success but also the development of morality, ethics and human character,” he said.

The explosives-laden i20 car that detonated outside the Red Fort on November 10, killing 15 people, was driven by Dr Umar-un-Nabi.

The probe unravelled a ‘white-collar’ terror module, leading to the arrests of three doctors — Muzammil Ganai, Adeel Rather and Shaheena Saeed — among others.

Singh added that knowledge leads to competence, which leads to prosperity, and prosperity leads to righteousness, and ultimately, true happiness comes only from righteousness.

“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,” Singh said.

“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,” Singh said.

Terrorists are not necessarily illiterate; they can hold university and college degrees, yet they become terrorists because they lack wisdom, the defence minister said.

“Therefore, wisdom is essential,” he said.

Singh also said that many defence startups are doing remarkable work in the country.

“I am confident that in the next 15-20 years, India will become fully self-reliant in weapons,” the defence minister said.

He also said that artificial intelligence, machine learning and other technologies are transforming people’s lives and work, and they must be used positively to drive India’s development.

India is the world’s fourth-largest economy, which is on track to become the third-largest by 2030, Singh said, noting that universities have a big role to play in this journey.

He also emphasised the importance of understanding the delicate balance between self-respect and ego, and urged people not to cross the fine line between the two.

“While the feeling of self-respect is important, it should never transform into arrogance,” Singh said.

Motivating students to have a big heart, Singh said, “Do not work with a small mind. The bigger your heart, the more the feeling of happiness.”

Calling teachers the strongest pillars of education, he said, “In India, teachers are viewed with respect. They have been the initiators of the greatest social changes in the country.”

He added that values are very important in life, and students should not develop a sense of ego.

Today, the world is facing problems such as environmental issues, health crises and digital ethics, which cannot be solved with a single discipline, Singh said.

“Solutions can only be found through a multidisciplinary approach. Universities must teach the students not only what to think, but also how to think. They must create an environment where students can think holistically,” he said.

“Mere publication in journals cannot be the ultimate goal of research; its goal should be to bring about changes on the ground, whether in policymaking or in finding solutions to other social problems. Universities should promote solution-driven research,” he added.

Chittorgarh MP C P Joshi, Nathdwara MLA Vishvaraj Singh and other political leaders were present on the occasion.

Chennai, Jan 02: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said India has every right to defend its people when it comes to “bad neighbours” and asserted that a neighbouring country cannot ask New Delhi to share water if it continues to spread terrorism in the country.

At the same time, he said with “good neighbours”, India invests, helps and shares, whether it was vaccines during COVID-19 pandemic, fuel and food support during the Ukraine conflict, or the USD four billion assistance to Sri Lanka during its financial crisis.

Without naming Pakistan, Jaishankar said India has every right to defend its people when it comes to “bad neighbours”.

“India’s growth is a lifting tide for the region, and most of our neighbours recognise that if India grows, they grow with us. But when it comes to bad neighbours who persist with terrorism, India has every right to defend its people and will do whatever is necessary. You cannot request us to share our water with you and also spread terrorism in our country,” he said while interacting with students at IIT Madras here.

The Union minister said it is important to communicate with other countries to avoid a situation where India’s intentions are misread.

“How to prevent people from misreading you is to communicate. If you communicate well, clearly and honestly, other countries and other people respect it and accept it.

A lot of people across the world are proud of their culture, tradition and heritage. I see no reason why we should not be,” he said.

He pointed out that there are “really very few” ancient civilisations that have survived to become major modern nation states, and India is one of them.

“We have a sense of our past which very few countries have… It was our decision to opt for a democratic political model, which made the very idea of democracy as a universal political concept.

“Had we not gone that way, the democratic model, as we know it, would have been regional and narrow… Partnership with the West is also important, and that is how we shape the world,” he added.

Jaishankar noted that he was in Bangladesh just two days ago to represent India at the funeral of former prime minister Khaleda Zia.

“But more broadly, our approach to the neighbourhood is guided by common sense. With good neighbours, India invests, helps and shares – whether it was vaccines during COVID, fuel and food support during the Ukraine conflict, or the USD 4 billion assistance to Sri Lanka during its financial crisis,” he said.

Jaishankar also launched ‘IITM Global Research Foundation’, a landmark international initiative of Indian Institute of Technology Madras aimed at positioning the institute as a globally-networked hub for education, research, innovation and entrepreneurship.

He said countries have advanced by growing at home and then engaging abroad, leveraging the international environment in a way that contributes to the growth and also gains from it.

“When we say ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, the term is we have never considered the world as an inimical or hostile place from which we have to defensively protect ourselves. We have limitations on our resources. With limited resources, how do you have maximum impact? That is actually the problem that has to be solved,” he underlined.

“What we try to do in Indian foreign policy and diplomacy today is solve that problem. We try to do that partly using our competitiveness and strengths and leveraging other institutions and possibilities,” he added.

Srinagar, Jan 02: In a significant development, the Union Finance Ministry has restored financial powers to the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh. The Ministry has delegated authority for appraisal and approval of projects up to Rs 100 crore to the Administrators and LGs of Ladakh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu and Lakshadweep.

According to a communique, the powers to LGs and administrators have been granted under the Delegation of Financial Powers Rules (DFPRs), 2024.

As per conditions set by the ministry, these powers have to be exercised by LGs/administrators in consultation with the respective UT’s Secretary (Finance) or Financial Advisor, as well as after adequate budgetary provisions are available.

The Finance Ministry directive states that delegated powers cannot be further re-delegated.

It also directs that details of all proposals sanctioned under these powers must be submitted quarterly to the Department of Expenditure through the Ministry of Home Affairs-by the end of July, October, January, and April.

As per the letter, the powers of Administrators and LGs to sanction expenditure-from in-principle approval to final approval, including appraisal-will continue under Rule 16 of DFPRs, 2024, but only after schemes are appraised and approved by the competent authorities.

This decision is particularly significant for Ladakh, where political and non-political groups had taken strong exception to the Union Government’s move to withdraw the LG’s powers to approve projects up to Rs 100 crore, centralizing authority with the MHA—(KNO)