Kolkata, Jan. 20: Manmohan Singh said the recent attempts to interfere with free expression of the student community in Hyderabad Central University and Jawaharlal Nehru University were of particular concern and termed suppression of peaceful dissent as "inimical to learning" and undemocratic.
He expressed concern over growing neo-nationalist tendencies in India terming it an "extremely destructive" trend.
Speaking at the bicentenary celebrations of the Presidency University in Kolkata, 84-year-old Singh said, "We are witnessing a rise in new nationalist tendencies responding to populism and directing hatred against backward classes and minorities."
"Regrettably, independent thinking and free expression in Indian universities are now under threat. Attempts to suppress peaceful dissent are not only inimical to learning but also undemocratic."
"True nationalism is found where students, citizens, are encouraged to think and speak freely where dissents are encouraged and not suppressed. It is only by constructive engagements we can truly build a stronger, more cohesive and sustaining democracy in our country," Singh said and also made a veiled reference to Hyderabad University student Rohit Vemula suicide issue.
"We must make very effort to protect the autonomy of our university and to foster the right of our students to express ideas," he said.
Amidst the growing debate over nationalism in the country, Singh advised youngsters to indulge in "constructive engagements". "True nationalism is when students are encouraged to think and speak freely, where dissent is encouraged and not suppressed. It is only by a constructive engagement can we truly build a stronger, more cohesive and sustaining democracy in our country," he said.
Singh said, "We are witnessing around the world a rise of nationalist tendencies, populism and hatred against backward classes and minorities in disregarding reason and rationality but these tendencies could be extremely destructive.
