Haridwar, March 7 (NationPress) - On Saturday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a substantial public assembly in Uttarakhand's Haridwar as part of the 'Jan-Jan Ki Sarkar: Char Saal Bemisaal' initiative, celebrating four years of the Pushkar Singh Dhami-led administration in the region.

During his speech, Shah highlighted that this event commemorated not only the four-year mark of the Dhami government but also the completion of nine years of the BJP-led regime in Uttarakhand.

“Today marks the end of the Dhami government's four-year term. Concurrently, the BJP-led government has also reached its nine-year milestone in Uttarakhand. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited to kick off celebrations for 25 years of Uttarakhand,” he stated.

Reflecting on the state's journey towards statehood, Shah noted that Uttarakhand once faced significant challenges in gaining recognition and identity.

“There was a period when this 'Devbhoomi' was fighting for its rights, advocating for a separate state and identity. The youth of Uttarakhand rallied to preserve the state's culture. During that time, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party inflicted severe injustices upon the youth, resulting in tragic sacrifices. The Rampur Tiraha incident remains a painful memory for the people of Uttarakhand,” he remarked.

Shah credited former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for establishing Uttarakhand, recalling the political discussions surrounding the formation of smaller states.

“It is crucial to remember that at that time, senior BJP leader and then Prime Minister Vajpayee played a pivotal role in the creation of Uttarakhand. Critics from the Congress party questioned the viability of 'small states' and their economic sustainability. Vajpayee successfully established three smaller states—Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh—and today, all of them are progressing towards development,” he noted.

Referring to his previous visit after the BJP's formation of government, Shah emphasized the party's commitment to continue Vajpayee's vision for Uttarakhand.

“When the BJP government was formed nine years ago, I was here and stated, 'Atal ji formed Uttarakhand, Modi ji will guide it towards progress,'” he recalled.

Labeling the past nine years of BJP governance as “years of Uttarakhand’s development,” Shah commended the Dhami administration for effectively addressing the needs and challenges of the state's populace.

During the event, he announced the initiation of developmental projects worth Rs 1,132 crore in Uttarakhand.

Discussing legal reforms and the introduction of new criminal laws, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Shah stated that the government aims to facilitate swifter justice.

“Under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, all outdated laws have been repealed, and the BNS has been launched. By 2028, we will fully implement all laws. Following that, any FIR filed in a police station will see the legal process completed up to the Supreme Court within three years. Justice will now be served swiftly,” he asserted.

The Home Minister also emphasized employment initiatives in the state, mentioning that approximately 1,900 youths have been recruited as police constables.

“I want to pose this question to all young individuals: if the Congress were in power, would you have received these jobs? It would have required a slip and incurred costs. Now, no recommendations or bribes are necessary. The son of a humble mother residing in the mountains is returning home today with a job without any recommendations. This exemplifies good governance. The anti-cheating law enacted by Dhami ji has introduced transparency into the employment sector,” he said.

He also addressed the issue of citizenship for religious minorities from neighboring nations, accusing previous governments of denying them rights through appeasement politics.

“Due to appeasement politics, Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan have been denied citizenship since Independence,” he remarked.

“These refugees have an equal right to reside in this nation, as Narendra Modi has declared. They have come to our country as refugees after enduring severe hardships. To protect their religion and the dignity of their families' women, will India not grant them citizenship? Rahul Gandhi, protest as much as you wish; we will grant citizenship, and you cannot prevent us,” he stated, directing his comments toward the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha.

Shah expressed confidence in the BJP's future prospects, citing recent electoral successes of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.

“In the 2024 general elections, Narendra Modi will be re-elected as Prime Minister for a third consecutive term. In 2024, a BJP leader will also be the Chief Minister of Odisha for the first time, we will achieve a hat-trick in Haryana and Maharashtra, and in 2025, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will be eliminated in Delhi,” he mentioned.

Rallying support for the upcoming 2027 Assembly elections, Shah stated, “A government was formed with a two-thirds majority. For the first time, the BJP's saffron flag has been raised in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. We have also achieved victory in Maharashtra. In 2026, BJP and NDA governments will be established in Bengal and Tamil Nadu. However, you, the people of Devbhoomi, must lead the way for 2027. In 2027, we aim to re-establish a full-majority BJP government,” he concluded.