Amit Shah accuses Congress of stalling Uttarakhand roads fearing Chinese intrusion
Synopsis
Home Minister Amit Shah used Uttarakhand's Foundation Day to level a pointed charge: that Congress governments blocked road-building in border areas fearing Chinese intrusion, leaving the state underdeveloped. The speech — packed with economic claims, UCC endorsements, and direct attacks on Rahul Gandhi — is a clear opening salvo ahead of Uttarakhand's next Assembly elections.
Key Takeaways
Amit Shah accused Congress of deliberately blocking road construction in Uttarakhand's border areas, alleging it was done out of fear of Chinese intrusion .
Speaking at the Uttarakhand Rajyotsav Samaroh in Dehradun on 6 November 2026 , Shah claimed the state's GSDP has grown 50% since 2022 under the BJP.
Shah stated that industrial projects worth ₹1 lakh crore are already under way in the state.
He reaffirmed plans to roll out the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) across all BJP-ruled states .
Shah attacked Rahul Gandhi over his state visits and the SIR electoral roll exercise, calling his yatra a 'Ghuspathiya Bachao Yatra' .
Shah expressed confidence the BJP will win a third consecutive term in Uttarakhand's upcoming Assembly elections.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday, 6 November 2026, launched a sharp attack on the Indian National Congress, alleging that the party deliberately held back road construction and development projects in border areas of Uttarakhand out of fear that improved infrastructure would invite Chinese intrusion. Shah made the remarks while addressing the Uttarakhand Rajyotsav Samaroh in Dehradun, marking the state's 26th Foundation Day.
Shah's Core Accusation Against Congress
Speaking at the event, Shah alleged that Congress governments had deliberately adopted a policy of under-developing the state's border regions. "They used to say that if roads are made, China will attempt to make intrusions. But we did build roads, and PM Modi built the country in a way that today no one will dare to touch India's borders," he said, drawing a pointed contrast between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress approaches to border infrastructure.
Shah further claimed that the previous Congress government left Uttarakhand as a 'money order economy' and made policies that, in his words, would not benefit the people of the state. He accused Congress of keeping the state 'away from development in fear of intrusion', while asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had transformed border villages into 'the first village of the country' — a reference to the Centre's Vibrant Villages Programme.
Tribute to Vajpayee, BJP's Claim on Statehood
Remembering the late former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, under whose government Uttarakhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh on 9 November 2000, Shah said the Samajwadi Party and Congress had 'committed numerous atrocities against the youth' to prevent the formation of the state. "Atal ji turned a long-standing demand into a reality. I pay tribute to all those who lost their lives during the long struggle," Shah stated.
Shah credited Modi with the subsequent 'beautification' of the state and set an ambitious target: "By 2047, Uttarakhand will be the first state to become developed as part of the journey towards Viksit Bharat."
Economic Claims and Policy Highlights
The Home Minister cited a series of figures to buttress the BJP government's development record. He claimed the state's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has grown by 50 per cent since 2022, and that per capita income has risen by 40 per cent. He added that industrial projects worth ₹1 lakh crore have been commissioned and are under way, despite what he acknowledged as 'several industrial challenges' in the state.
Shah also cited the rollout of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttarakhand as a landmark achievement, asserting that no one in the state can now legally marry four times and that Triple Talaq has been prohibited. "We will slowly implement UCC in all BJP-ruled states," he added. He also credited the Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami-led government for enacting an anti-cheating law and an anti-conversion law in the state.
Attacks on Rahul Gandhi Ahead of Assembly Elections
Shah directed pointed remarks at Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, dismissing his recent tours of the state. "Rahul ji, your tours to the state will not make any difference. Our party workers are tirelessly working day and night to resolve the problems of Devbhoomi's people," Shah said.
He also targeted Gandhi over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise for electoral rolls, calling his 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' a 'Ghuspathiya Bachao Yatra' (a rally to protect infiltrators) — a remark that is likely to draw a sharp political response. "Rahul ji, your fake narrative won't be tolerated by citizens," Shah added.
Expressing confidence ahead of the next state Assembly elections, Shah said: "There are many states where the BJP has made a hat-trick in winning Assembly polls; next in line is Uttarakhand." He also made an indirect reference to Pakistan without naming it, citing Operation Sindoor as evidence that the Modi government had eliminated threats in their own territory. With the Uttarakhand Assembly elections approaching, Shah's address signals the BJP is moving early to consolidate its narrative around development, border security, and social legislation.
Point of View
Not just assertion. The GSDP and per capita income figures — 50% and 40% growth since 2022 — are significant claims that have not been independently verified in this address. With Uttarakhand elections on the horizon, this speech is as much an election manifesto as a Foundation Day address, and the Congress-free-of-blame-on-border-neglect counter-narrative is conspicuously absent from the coverage.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Amit Shah say about Congress and Chinese intrusion in Uttarakhand?
Shah alleged that Congress governments deliberately avoided building roads in Uttarakhand's border areas, fearing the infrastructure would invite Chinese military intrusion. He contrasted this with the BJP's approach, claiming the Modi government built border roads and transformed border villages into 'the first village of the country'.
What is the Uttarakhand Rajyotsav Samaroh?
It is the annual Foundation Day celebration marking Uttarakhand's formation as a separate state from Uttar Pradesh on 9 November 2000, under the government of late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The event commemorates the statehood movement and those who sacrificed their lives for it.
What economic claims did Amit Shah make about Uttarakhand?
Shah claimed that Uttarakhand's GSDP has grown by 50% since 2022 and that per capita income has risen by 40% under the BJP government. He also stated that industrial projects worth ₹1 lakh crore are already under way in the state.
What did Shah say about the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand?
Shah highlighted that the UCC has been implemented in Uttarakhand, prohibiting polygamy and Triple Talaq in the state. He further asserted that the BJP intends to gradually roll out the UCC across all BJP-governed states.
Why did Shah target Rahul Gandhi at the Uttarakhand Foundation Day event?
Shah dismissed Rahul Gandhi's recent tours of Uttarakhand as politically ineffective, arguing that BJP workers' grassroots work outweighs Congress's campaign efforts. He also criticised Gandhi's 'Voter Adhikar Yatra', calling it a 'Ghuspathiya Bachao Yatra', ahead of the upcoming state Assembly elections.
