Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a statue of Swami
Vivekananda on Thursday in the JNU campus, for long an ideological battlefield
for the Left and Hindutva groups, and asserted that people’s ideologies should
be seen standing with and not against the country in matters of national
interest.

Giving priority to one’s ideology over national interest has
harmed the democratic system of the country a lot, Modi said in his address to
students after unveiling the statue through video conferencing.

“Everybody is proud of his ideology and this is
natural. But our ideology should be seen standing with the nation and not
against it in matters of national interest,” he said.

He cited examples of the independence struggle and the
movement against the Emergency to note how people of different ideological
standpoints had joined hands for national interest without compromising their
ideologies.

So when the question is about the national integrity and
interests, then taking a decision under the burden of one’s ideology harms the
nation, Modi said.

“It is wrong to believe that one will think and act in
a certain framework in matters of national interest solely because this is what
one’s ideology says,” he said.

Jawaharlal Nehru University has long been considered a
citadel of the Left.

The BJP and Hindutva groups, including RSS’ student wing
ABVP, have often claimed that groups with “anti-national” sentiments
have found support from the Left-affiliated groups in the campus.

There have been violent clashes between them at times in
past.

The decision to install a life-size statue of Vivekananda, a
widely-respected Hindu monk who the prime minister considers an idol, in the
campus is imbued with rich symbolism.

The statue, Modi expressed confidence, will teach people
immense dedication to the nation and intense love for our country which, he
added, is the prime message of Vivekananda’s life.

The statue will inspire us to realise his dream of a strong
and prosperous India, Modi said, noting that he had said at the start of 20th
century that the next century will belong to India.

Referring to the renowned university’s culture of debate and
discussion of different ideas, he said they can now do it in the statue’s
shadow.

Taking a swipe at earlier governments, he said the poor were
given only slogans but efforts to include them in financial and other systems were never made, and they remained “neglected, unconnected and financially
excluded”.

His government has provided them with houses, electricity,
drinking water, digital banking, fast internet connection, Modi claimed,
describing these measures protection shield for the poor which has given wings
to their aspirations.

The prime minister said the statue in the campus will
inspire everyone and instill courage and compassion that Swami Vivekananda
wanted to see in everyone.

“Swami Vivekanda wanted that education in the country
should be such that it provides self-confidence to individuals and makes them
‘atmanirbhar’ in every way. The new National Education Policy is on the same
line and has inclusion at its core,” he added.

India’s young population is its brand ambassador across the
world, he said, adding that they are expected to not merely be proud of its
ancient identity but also to carve a new identity for the country in the 21st
century.

The statue’s unveiling by Modi drew protests from the JNU
Students Union.

Students flashed posters of “Modi go back” and
“We want answers” ahead of the unveiling of the statue by him.

He has chosen this university for installing the statue but
whenever students raise their voice on any issue, everybody comes
“hounding” and demands that the university should be shut, said JNU
Students Union president Aishe Ghosh, who was leading the protest at the
varsity’s north gate.

N Sai Balaji, former JNUSU president and national president
of left-backed All India Students Association (AISA), asked, “Why is the
PM not coming to inaugurate a hostel on the campus? Why is he not making a
speech about students who have not got their scholarships? Our library has had
an 80% budget cut. Why is he not coming to announce that the funds will be
sanctioned?”

Earlier in the day, the union had written an open letter to
the prime minister saying they have profound disagreements with his idea of
India.