Amit Shah Recalls Uttarakhand Statehood Struggle, Highlights Development Under BJP
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, speaking in Haridwar on Saturday, reflected on the historic Uttarakhand statehood movement, emphasizing the sacrifices made by the youth to protect their identity, culture, and rights. He noted that during this struggle, incidents of violence, such as the Rampur Tiraha firing, were faced by the people.
Historic Statehood Decision and Progress
Shah highlighted that after the formation of a BJP-led government at the Centre, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee made the historic decision to create new states, including Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh. He stated that all three states are now progressing rapidly on the path of development. According to Shah, Uttarakhand was created by Vajpayee, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now working to shape and develop it further, with the period from 2017 to 2026 dedicated to the state's development.
He praised Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for systematically addressing longstanding issues over the past four years, helping Uttarakhand move forward at double speed. Shah also mentioned that government jobs in Uttarakhand are now being provided without corruption, thanks to strict anti-copying laws introduced by Dhami.
New Criminal Laws and Citizenship Amendment Act
The Home Minister appealed to the public, especially legal professionals, to visit an exhibition on the new criminal laws. He explained that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has replaced 150-year-old British-era laws, with full implementation of the new criminal justice framework expected by 2028. This system aims to ensure that any case, from FIR registration to Supreme Court verdict, takes a maximum of three years, described by Shah as one of the most modern and scientific justice systems globally.
Shah congratulated refugees who have received Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), stating that Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains from Pakistan and Afghanistan have as much right to India as Prime Minister Modi. He criticized past appeasement politics for depriving them of citizenship and affirmed the government's firm stance on granting citizenship despite opposition.
Key Government Initiatives and Achievements
Shah listed several historic decisions by Prime Minister Modi, including the abrogation of Article 370, implementation of the CAA, construction of the Ram Mandir, redevelopment of Kedarnath and Badrinath Temples, development of Mahakal Lok, and the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor. He also mentioned the upcoming Kumbh Mela in Haridwar in 2027, expressing confidence it will break records.
Referring to the Vibrant Village Programme, Shah said border villages have been given "first village" status to prevent migration, benefiting Uttarakhand. He praised Dhami for removing encroachments from nearly 10,000 acres of government land and commended the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttarakhand to prevent unnatural demographic changes. Shah emphasized the importance of clean voter lists through Special Intensive Revision (SIR) to protect democracy.
Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development
Shah highlighted significant financial support from the Centre, noting that between 2004 and 2014, Uttarakhand received only Rs. 54,000 crore, but since 2014, it has received Rs. 1.87 lakh crore. Additional investments are being made in projects like the all-weather road project, Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor, railways, and other infrastructure. He reported that per capita income has increased from Rs. 1.25 lakh in 2014 to Rs. 2.60 lakh today, while the state's GSDP has risen from Rs. 1.5 lakh crore to Rs. 3.5 lakh crore.
Chief Minister Dhami's Remarks
Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah, the people of Uttarakhand broke political myths in 2022, giving the government a massive mandate for a second consecutive term. He highlighted achievements such as the removal of Article 370, implementation of the CAA, and introduction of new criminal laws aligning with India's values.
Dhami noted that terrorism and Naxalism have been controlled, with areas once known for unrest now progressing towards development. He emphasized progress in the cooperative sector and revival of spiritual heritage through projects like the Ram Temple, Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, and redevelopment of Badrinath and Kedarnath. Dhami thanked the Centre for approving Rs. 500 crore for the upcoming Kumbh in Haridwar.
State Development and Recognition
The Chief Minister detailed infrastructure strengthening in roads, education, healthcare, railways, and air connectivity. Through the 2023 Global Investment Summit, investment agreements worth Rs. 3.56 lakh crore were signed, with projects worth over Rs. 1 lakh crore already under implementation. He mentioned hosting G20 Summit meetings and organising the National Games, where Uttarakhand athletes won over 100 medals and secured seventh place.
Dhami reported that the state's economy has grown more than one and a half times over the past four years, with GSDP growing by 7.23 percent and per capita income increasing by 41 percent in the last year alone. The state budget has expanded from Rs. 60,000 crore to over Rs. 1 lakh crore, with more than 20,000 new industries established and startups increasing from about 700 to over 1,700.
Uttarakhand secured first position in the Sustainable Development Index released by NITI Aayog for 2023-24 and received several national recognitions, including awards for aviation ecosystem promotion, best village, and best district initiatives. The state performed well in national indices such as the National Logistics Index, State Startup Ecosystem rankings, Ease of Doing Business, and the State Energy and Green Index.
Dhami concluded by noting the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand as a historic step towards social justice and equality, along with actions against infiltrators through "Operation Kalnemi" and strict land laws to prevent illegal purchases and curb land mafia activities.
