Shekhawat briefs Jodhpur media on 12 years of Modi govt
Synopsis
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat addressed a BJP Jodhpur City press conference on 15 June 2026, presenting twelve years of Modi government achievements to local media under the 'Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi' banner alongside three local BJP leaders.
Key Takeaways
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat , Union Culture and Tourism Minister and Jodhpur MP, led a BJP press conference in Jodhpur on 15 June 2026 .
The event was organised by the BJP Jodhpur City unit as part of the #12YearsOfSeva campaign marking twelve years of the Modi government.
Shekhawat briefed media on development works, public welfare schemes, and governance achievements since May 2014 .
The BJP slogan 'Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi' — development alongside heritage — was central to the messaging at the event.
Local leaders present included Soorsagar MLA Devendra Joshi , Jodhpur City MLA Atul Bhansali , and District President Rajendra Paliwal .
Rajasthan's rich cultural assets make it a key focus state for the BJP's twin development-and-heritage policy narrative.
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat addressed a press conference organised by the BJP Jodhpur City unit on Monday, 15 June 2026, sharing with media representatives an account of development works, public welfare schemes, and governance achievements of the past 12 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Context
Speaking at the event, Shekhawat elaborated on what he described as India's forward march under the resolve of 'Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi' — 'Development as well as Heritage' — a BJP framing that pairs infrastructure-led economic growth with cultural preservation. The press conference was part of the party's #12YearsOfSeva campaign, a nationwide communication drive marking twelve years of the BJP-led central government since May 2014.
Shekhawat, who represents the Jodhpur Lok Sabha constituency, was joined by local party functionaries: Soorsagar MLA Devendra Joshi, Jodhpur City MLA Atul Bhansali, and BJP Jodhpur District President Rajendra Paliwal.
Policy Backdrop
The slogan 'Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi' has been a consistent BJP messaging pillar since at least 2022–23, used to argue that economic development and heritage conservation are not competing priorities but complementary goals. As Culture and Tourism Minister, Shekhawat oversees schemes such as Swadesh Darshan and PRASAD, which fund tourism infrastructure and pilgrimage site development across India.
Rajasthan, with its dense network of forts, palaces, and religious sites, has been a focal state for both tourism investment and heritage conservation under the central government's cultural policy framework. Jodhpur itself, home to Mehrangarh Fort and the historic Blue City, sits at the intersection of these twin priorities.
Stakeholders and Impact
The primary audience at the press conference was the local media fraternity in Jodhpur, through whom the BJP sought to reach residents of the constituency with a consolidated account of central government performance. Welfare scheme beneficiaries, local entrepreneurs in the tourism sector, and heritage conservation workers represent the broader stakeholder groups referenced in the party's messaging.
For Jodhpur specifically, the convergence of Shekhawat's ministerial portfolio with his home constituency gives such outreach events added political and administrative resonance, allowing him to speak both as a national policymaker and as a local representative.
What's Next
The #12YearsOfSeva campaign is expected to continue with similar constituency-level events across the country in the weeks ahead. Observers will watch for any announcement of new tourism or heritage projects in Rajasthan, as well as parliamentary discussions on the Culture Ministry's budget allocations in the next session. Shekhawat's active local engagement also signals sustained party-building activity in what remains a key Lok Sabha seat for the BJP.
Point of View
Likely ahead of electoral cycles in Rajasthan and nationally. For Shekhawat, doubling as Culture Minister and Jodhpur MP allows him to anchor the 'Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi' slogan in concrete, constituency-visible terms — tourism investment and heritage conservation — rather than abstract policy. The presence of three local BJP functionaries alongside a Union Minister also underscores a deliberate effort to project organisational unity at the grassroots level.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BJP's '#12YearsOfSeva' campaign?
'#12YearsOfSeva' is a BJP communication campaign marking twelve years of the Narendra Modi-led central government since May 2014, highlighting welfare schemes, infrastructure development, and governance achievements through constituency-level events and media outreach.
What does 'Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi' mean?
'Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi' translates to 'Development as well as Heritage' and is a BJP slogan used since at least 2022–23 to argue that economic growth and cultural preservation are complementary, not competing, national priorities.
Who is Gajendra Singh Shekhawat?
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is India's Union Minister of Culture and Tourism and a senior BJP leader. He is the Lok Sabha MP representing the Jodhpur constituency in Rajasthan.
Which BJP leaders attended the Jodhpur press conference on 15 June 2026?
Alongside Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the press conference was attended by Soorsagar MLA Devendra Joshi, Jodhpur City MLA Atul Bhansali, and BJP Jodhpur District President Rajendra Paliwal.
What tourism schemes does the Culture and Tourism Ministry run in Rajasthan?
The Union Culture and Tourism Ministry operates schemes such as Swadesh Darshan and PRASAD, which fund tourism infrastructure and pilgrimage site development. Rajasthan, with sites like Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, is a key beneficiary state under these programmes.
