True education teaches nationalism, builds character, says Parrikar

Commenting on the debate on freedom of speech and expression currntly raging in national capital Delhi, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who was in Darjeeling on Sunday, said only demanding Azadi would not do, one needed to be loyal to the country where one lives and eats.

Minister Parikkar was in Darjeeling to inaugurate the Ramkrishna Siksha Parishad Model School building. Addressing the gathering, Parikkar stated, "True education is one that teaches nationalism and builds character. This is the type of education that teaches our army to make the supreme sacrifice for the nation. We got Azadi because of our freedom fighters and the Azadi is retained because of our defence personnel. Mere shouting "We want Azadi" will not serve any purpose.

However, the Minister abstained from commenting on the unnatural death of Lance Nayak Roy Mathew case.

On the demand of separate state of Gorkhaland, the Defence Minister preferred to remain sketchy. "I will give a detailed briefing to the Home Minister including the seriousness of the issue. When dealing with this area or taking any decision, one needs to take into consideration the strategic importance of this area. This is a chicken's neck. Like the people of Darjeeling are pushing this demand forward, I can push it too but the issue does not come under the purview of the Defence Ministry, it is purely a matter relating to the Home Ministry. They will have to take a decision" stated Parrikar.

BJP heavy weights Jaswant Singh and SS Ahluwalia had won from the Darjeeling Parliamentary constituency in 2009 and 2014 respectively with active support from the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) riding piggyback on the Gorkhaland demand.

Though shying away from the word "Gorkhaland", the saffron camp has been projecting a pro-separate state stance in the Hills.