Days before Uttarakhand turns 26, the state's grandest annual celebration arrived early — and it arrived with a heavyweight guest. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami welcomed Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah at the Rajyotsav Samaroh held at Parade Ground, Dehradun on Friday, 6 November 2026, calling the visit a moment of 'joy and pride' for every resident of the hill state.

Shah's visit ahead of the 26th statehood anniversary

The ceremony precedes 9 November, when Uttarakhand completes 26 years as a separate state — a milestone born from years of mass agitation and finally delivered by Bharat Ratna former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2000. Dhami invoked Vajpayee's legacy pointedly, crediting the late leader with honouring the 'struggle, sacrifice, and dedication' of the statehood movement. Today, he said, the state government works under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah to fulfil those same aspirations.

Dhami drew a direct line between Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's post-independence nation-building and Shah's current stewardship of internal security — framing the Home Minister as the contemporary carrier of that integrationist mandate.

Presidential Colour for Uttarakhand Police — a historic first

The evening's most concrete honour: Uttarakhand Police was conferred the prestigious 'President's Police Colour' — one of the highest distinctions a state police force can receive. Dhami congratulated every officer and constable in the force and expressed gratitude to Shah for facilitating the award. The recognition signals a formal national acknowledgement of the force's performance and discipline since the state's formation.

A budget comparison that makes a political point

Dhami reached for a sharp statistical contrast to rebut critics. He cited Himachal Pradesh's current-year budget at approximately ₹54,928 crore against Uttarakhand's at approximately ₹1,11,703 crore — roughly double, for a state with broadly comparable mountain geography. The comparison, he argued, reflects the state government's 'commitment to development.' He credited the 'double-engine government' model — aligned ruling parties at the Centre and in Lucknow — for accelerating connectivity, infrastructure, tourism, industry, and self-employment. (Note: these budget figures are as stated by the CM; independent verification is pending.)

National rankings and sectoral awards Dhami cited

The CM listed a string of recent recognitions: a first-place ranking in the NITI Aayog Sustainable Development Goals Index; a ₹200 crore reward from the Centre for mining-sector reforms; a best state award for fisheries development among Himalayan and north-eastern states; and national tourism honours for Best Adventure Destination and Best Wildlife Destination. The state also received the 'Most Film-Friendly State' national award for creating a production-friendly environment.

A direct warning on 'chaos and confusion'

Dhami did not shy from political territory. He acknowledged that dissent and questioning are democratic rights, but drew a line at 'inciting youth, spreading rumours, and encouraging violence.' He called out what he described as a 'double standard' toward democratic institutions and electoral processes. He pointed to recent Loktantra Bachao, Anarchata Hatao ('Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy') programmes in Srinagar and Rudrapur as evidence of broad public support for his administration's position.

Three central policy decisions anchored much of his speech: the revocation of Article 370 provisions in August 2019, the Citizenship Amendment Act of December 2019, and the three new criminal laws replacing colonial-era statutes passed in 2023 — all cited as milestones in strengthening 'national unity, security, and the justice system.' Action against terrorism, separatism, and Naxalism, he said, has 'paved the way for peace and development across the country.'

With the statehood anniversary three days away and a Home Minister in the audience, Uttarakhand has signalled that its 26th year will be marked not just with ceremony — but with a very deliberate political statement about where the state stands.