Mangaluru: Declaring that anti-national statements cannot be made in the guise of freedom of speech, BJP president Amit Shah called on youth to isolate such elements who attempt to speak against the nation. “Jo gine chune log hai jo aisa prayas karte hai unko alag talag kijiye. (Isolate these remaining elements who try to make such efforts).”
Mr Shah was in Mangaluru on Sunday to participate in the Tiranga Yatra and to pay tribute to Rani Abbakka, the first women freedom fighter from Ullal who had fought against the Portuguese.
“There is freedom of speech in our country. There is no problem if any thought is placed before a party or individual. But anti-national thoughts and statements in the guise of freedom of speech cannot be tolerated. I call upon youth to isolate such elements remaining in the country who try to speak against the nation,” he said.
He asked youth to take inspiration from freedom fighters and not from NGOs who give such statements. “In some parts of the country, people have started questioning nationalism. Theories are being planted against nationalism which is being questioned in the name of freedom of speech. Some have started campaigning in social media questioning the need for nationalism. But such people should know that freedom of speech was the result of the freedom which the country received because of nationalism,” he said.
“A country cannot stand united without nationalistic culture. The driving force behind freedom fighters was nationalistic thinking and slogans of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai,’ and ‘Vande Mataram.’ These slogans united the people and several people gave up their life for the freedom of the country chanting them,” he said.
