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Guwahati, Nov 12 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday issued a sharp warning in the wake of the recent Delhi blasts, calling it a sobering reminder that education alone cannot stop radicalization.
Describing the incident as a “new dimension of extremism”, Sarma said the nation must re-examine its assumptions about what drives people towards terror and ideological violence.
Speaking to reporters, Sarma reflected on how traditional understandings of extremism have evolved.
“Earlier we believed that lack of education pushes people towards extremist ideology,” he said. “But today, we see that even highly educated individuals can pose a big threat. If one cannot sing Vande Mataram from the heart, no amount of education can make him loyal to the nation.”
The chief minister’s comments come as the investigation continues into the blast near the Red Fort in Delhi, which left several dead and injured earlier this week.
Security agencies have reportedly discovered that some individuals with professional and technical backgrounds were linked to the conspiracy, sparking a major debate on the role of not only socio-economic deprivation but also ideology in the spread of radicalisation.
Sarma stressed that the root cause of extremism lies not in literacy levels, but in distorted beliefs and misplaced allegiances.
“We were always taught that education brings knowledge and reduces extremism,” he said. “But the current reality is worrying – people who are doctors, engineers or well-educated professionals are sometimes becoming more dangerous because their fundamentalism is intellectually justified rather than blind.”
His comments come after a series of arrests were made across Assam for allegedly spreading inflammatory and terror-glorifying content online in connection with the blast.
Sarma reiterated that Assam Police will continue to take strict action against misuse of social media or any attempt to incite hatred.
The Chief Minister urged citizens to remain vigilant against both overt and subtle forms of radical influence.
He asserted, “True education should strengthen, not weaken, love for the nation.” “Extremism is no longer about ignorance – it is about a failure of conviction. We must address this before it is too late.”
–IANS
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