PM Modi attends AMU's centenary celebrations, calls university 'mini India'

This was the first time PM Modi attended an event of AMU, the university which has been berated multiple times by members of Bharatiya Janata Party. Last year, students and teachers protested fiercely against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

In fact, no sitting PM has participated in AMU's celebrations since 1964, when Lal Bahadur Shastri gave a convocation speech, making PM Modi's attendance historic.

Today, PM Modi said India has embarked on a journey where everyone can be assured of their constitutional rights, their religion notwithstanding.

"The country is heading toward a path where all citizens get the benefits of development without bias. We are heading to a path where no one is left behind because of religion and everyone is able to fulfill their dreams," he said.

During his virtual address, he said it was important to align personal aspirations with national goals.

"There can be ideological divides in society but when it comes to the nation's development, everything else is secondary. When it comes to the nation, there is no question of ideological differences," he declared.

He cited the example of freedom fighters whose ideological differences didn't deviate them from the ultimate goal.

The BJP leader advised against seeing the country's progress through a political prism.

"Yes, when we come together for this goal, some elements will feed negativity. But when our thoughts are focused on a new India foremost, then such elements will have diminished space. Politics and society can wait but the country's development cannot wait," he said.

He said people saw the AMU campus as a city but to him, the university was "mini India."

"We see a mini India among different departments, dozens of hostels, thousands of teachers and professors," he stated, also adding that the power of diversity should not be weakened.

He asked AMU students to research about freedom fighters to mark the 75 years of India's Independence.