Freedom doesn't mean one can do what they want: Ajit Doval after recent protests
Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Saturday cautioned India’s youngsters against treating freedom as the unrestricted right to do whatever one wishes, remarks that came amid
Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Saturday cautioned India’s youngsters against treating freedom as the unrestricted right to do whatever one wishes, remarks that came amid an intense national debate over recent student protests linked to the NEET paper leak controversy. During the recent agitation, there were allegations of excessive police action, incidents of violence during demonstrations, use of abusive language by young protesters, and attacks in which more than 200 security personnel were reportedly injured. Read Full Story Doval made the comments in Pune after he was conferred the Lokmanya Tilak Award for his contribution to national security and public service. Addressing the award ceremony on the death anniversary of freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Doval said young Indians should reflect on the sacrifices made during the freedom struggle and understand that liberty carries responsibilities toward society and the nation. "Young people today might assume that India has always been the way it is now, or they might mistake freedom for the mere liberty to do whatever one desires.
But that is not what freedom truly means," he said. Referring to the recent nationwide protests led largely by students and young people, Doval said democratic freedoms should be accompanied by a sense of national duty. He urged the younger generation to draw inspiration from Tilak’s life and his role in shaping India’s national consciousness. "Every Indian, especially our youth, needs to reflect on his words, consider the vision he held for India and the spirit of nation-building he embodied," Doval said. The NSA said it was difficult for the present generation to fully imagine the atmosphere of fear, repression and hardship in which Tilak lived and worked under British rule. Doval, serving as NSA since May 2014, was presented the Lokmanya Tilak Award 2026 by Union Home Minister Amit Shah at a ceremony in Pune. Union Home Minister Amit Shah presents the 'Lokmanya Tilak Award 2026' to Security Advisor Ajit Doval in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, in Pune.
(Photo: @CMOMaharashtra) The award, instituted in 1983 by the Tilak Smarak Trust, is conferred annually on individuals who have made notable contributions to the nation’s progress and development. Praising Doval’s long public career, Shah said the NSA had played a major role in strengthening India’s foreign policy and national security architecture. “In every decision of PM Modi for national security, Doval has had a role and advice in the background.” WHAT DOVAL SAID ON RECEIVING HONOUR Speaking after receiving the honour, Doval said he accepted the award with humility and recalled his early association with Pune during his student years. He said he first learnt about Tilak’s ideas through lectures delivered at his school and never imagined he would one day receive an award named after the freedom fighter. Doval said Tilak demonstrated extraordinary courage at a time when very few people dared to speak against British rule. He added that if Tilak were alive today, he might have said that making India strong and developed was now the nation’s foremost duty.
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