Degree in hand, RDX in pocket: Rajnath Singh sounds alarm on white-collar terror

Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on January 2 issued a stark warning about what he termed the growing menace of “white-collar terrorism”, cautioning that higher education stripped of ethics and values can pose a grave threat to society and the nation.

Speaking at the 104th foundation day of Bhupal Nobles’ University in Udaipur, Singh said recent incidents had exposed a disturbing trend in which highly educated individuals were allegedly involved in acts of terror. As a chilling example, he cited the November 10 car bomb blast near Delhi’s Red Fort, in which three doctors were arrested.

“An alarming trend of white-collar terrorism is emerging in the country. Highly educated people are working against society and the nation. The perpetrators of the Delhi bomb blast were doctors — those who had a degree in hand and RDX in their pockets,” Singh said, stressing that knowledge without character can be dangerous.

The blast, involving an explosives-laden i20 car allegedly driven by Dr Umar-un-Nabi, claimed 15 lives. Subsequent investigations, officials said, led to the exposure of a white-collar terror module and the arrest of three doctors — Muzammil Ganai, Adeel Rather and Shaheena Saeed — among others.

Singh underscored that the true purpose of education extends far beyond professional success. “Education must develop morality, ethics and human character. Any system that fails to inculcate humility, a sense of duty and ‘dharma’ along with knowledge is incomplete,” he said.

Rejecting the notion that terrorism is rooted in illiteracy, the Defense Minister said extremists often possess academic qualifications but lack wisdom and values. “Religion should not be reduced to rituals at a temple, mosque or church. Religion is a sense of duty. Education devoid of morality is not only useless to society — at times, it can even prove fatal,” he added.

Singh also touched upon India’s economic and technological rise, noting that the country is currently the world’s fourth-largest economy and is on track to become the third-largest by 2030. Universities, he said, would play a decisive role in shaping that future — not just by producing skilled professionals, but responsible citizens.