Venkaiah Naidu denounces slogans against PM, HM, calls those students 'misled'

Bhubaneswar, Jan 7 (PTI) Former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday denounced slogans against Prime Minister and the Home Minister on the JNU campus and called those students "misled".

He said the slogan-shouting students should understand that the prime minister has been elected and should be respected.

"Hatred should not be a part of anybody's life. Then giving slogans against the Prime Minister, against the Home Minister and against the country is not going to help those students. They are being misled," Naidu said after attending a function here.

Replying to another question on Venezuela, Naidu said, "No country should interfere in the internal affairs of another country. The US has no business in other countries' affairs, not only Venezuela but also other countries. The US has not done the correct thing." Addressing the valedictory ceremony of the 27th Foundation Day of Utkal University of Culture here, Naidu said that culture truly flourishes when it engages with real human concerns such as social harmony, environmental sustainability, dignity of labour and inclusive growth.

He said Odisha occupies a unique place in India's civilisational narrative, where culture has always been regarded as a living force shaping collective life.

From rituals and customs to architecture, literature, music, dance and craftsmanship, culture in Odisha permeates everyday life, he said, adding, "It was fitting that the country's first university dedicated exclusively to cultural studies was established in the state." Addressing the students, the former Vice President said they were not only inheritors of a rich cultural legacy but also creators of its future. He urged them to respect tradition while embracing innovation, and stressed that education should empower them to question, create and serve society.

Observing that the present era is dominated by speed and technology, Naidu said institutions like Utkal University of Culture remind society that progress must remain rooted in identity, ethics and shared memory. Development without cultural grounding, he cautioned, risks becoming hollow.

Emphasising that culture is dynamic and continuously evolving, Naidu further said the responsibility of the university extends beyond conservation to meaningful reinterpretation of traditions through research, documentation, creative experimentation and academic dialogue.

He also lauded the university’s interdisciplinary approach, outreach initiatives and community engagement, describing teachers as mentors and torchbearers who uphold a balance between academic excellence, ethics and creative sensitivity.

Addressing the gathering, Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati highlighted the need to view culture as a driver of innovation, enterprise and sustainable livelihoods in a rapidly changing, technology-driven world.

He said students and alumni of the university are not only custodians of tradition but also potential cultural entrepreneurs and innovators.

"Culture is not merely something to be preserved, it is a living resource that can generate employment, strengthen social cohesion and contribute to sustainable development," the governor said.

Highlighting Odisha's rich civilisational legacy, Kambhampati said the state's culture has remained vibrant and continuous through the ages, evolving through dialogue, synthesis and diversity.

Referring to the Kalinga War, he said Emperor Ashoka's transformation conveyed a timeless message of peace and humanism, while King Kharavela’s reign reflected courage, cultural vision and social responsibility. PTI BBM BBM RG