DEHRADUN, 6th Nov: Union Home Minister Amit Shah turned Uttarakhand Foundation Day celebrations into a sharp political offensive against Rahul Gandhi, branding the opposition’s SIR campaign a ‘Ghuspatiya Bachao Yatra’. Alongside the political attack, Shah announced development initiatives worth ₹1,508 crore, putting the BJP government’s infrastructure and economic agenda firmly in focus.

Amit Shah Uttarakhand Foundation Day: Politics Meets Development

Uttarakhand’s Foundation Day celebrations witnessed a mix of political confrontation, development announcements and recognition of the state’s achievements on Friday.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the event alongside Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The occasion saw the announcement of 63 development projects involving inaugurations and foundation stone laying ceremonies, with a combined value of ₹1,508 crore.

The projects cover different areas of development and are intended to strengthen infrastructure across the Himalayan state.

Shah also honoured 15 individuals with the Uttarakhand Gaurav Samman. Recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award and Bal Veerta Puraskar were also recognised for their contributions.

However, the biggest political headline came from Shah’s direct attack on Rahul Gandhi.

Shah Calls Rahul Gandhi’s SIR Campaign ‘Ghuspatiya Bachao Yatra’

Taking aim at the Congress leader, Shah questioned the opposition’s protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

“Rahul baba’s ‘Vote Bachao’ yatra is more like a ‘Ghuspatiya Bachao Yatra’!” Shah said.

He questioned whether infiltrators should be removed from Uttarakhand, which he described as Devbhoomi, and from India.

Shah accused the Congress of pursuing appeasement politics and rejected Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the electoral revision exercise.

He also brought up the Congress’s alleged position on granting a holiday for Friday prayers, its opposition to the Ram Mandir and what he described as policies encouraging infiltration.

These remarks added another layer to the ongoing political confrontation between the BJP and Congress.

Congress Faces Fresh Allegations Over Uttarakhand’s Past

Shah did not restrict his criticism to national politics. He also targeted previous Congress governments in Uttarakhand, particularly the administration led by former Chief Minister Harish Rawat.

He alleged that corruption had become widespread during the Congress government’s tenure.

Shah referred to several controversies, including the SC/ST scholarship scam, the liquor policy sting operation and the Kumaon food supply scam.

He claimed that the state Secretariat had become a centre for kickbacks and commissions, citing sting operations that allegedly exposed irregularities.

The Home Minister contrasted these allegations with the BJP government’s record, describing the last decade as a period of corruption-free administration.

He also accused Congress of leaving Uttarakhand economically dependent on money orders and struggling with migration.

BJP Highlights Tourism, Infrastructure and Economic Growth

Moving beyond political accusations, Shah presented the BJP government’s development record as a major argument for retaining power in Uttarakhand.

He said tourism in the state had grown by 380 per cent. He also claimed that Uttarakhand’s Gross State Domestic Product had increased by 50 per cent since 2022, while per capita income had risen by 40 per cent.

Shah further stated that industrial projects worth ₹1 lakh crore were already on the ground.

The figures formed an important part of his argument that Uttarakhand was moving away from an economy heavily dependent on migration and remittances towards industrial growth and tourism.

For a state blessed with glaciers, forests, rivers and mountain landscapes, tourism remains a major economic opportunity.

But infrastructure is equally important. Better roads, connectivity and facilities can make remote mountain regions more accessible while supporting employment and business activity.

Shah also criticised previous governments over road construction, alleging that security concerns involving China were once used as an excuse to avoid building roads near sensitive areas.

He said the Modi government had strengthened India’s border infrastructure and security capabilities.

Referring to surgical strikes and Operation Sindoor, Shah presented national security as another area where the BJP government had demonstrated its approach.

₹1,508 Crore Projects Put Uttarakhand Development in Focus

The announcement of 63 projects worth ₹1,508 crore was among the central highlights of the Foundation Day programme.

According to the Uttarakhand Chief Minister’s Office, the state is marking 26 years of statehood with a renewed focus on infrastructure, employment and investment.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s government has prioritised improving basic infrastructure in hilly areas, expanding employment and self-employment opportunities for young people, and positioning Uttarakhand as an investment and tourism destination.

The proposed projects are expected to support these priorities.

The state’s geography makes infrastructure development particularly important. Its mountainous terrain, scattered settlements and international borders create distinct challenges for transportation and public services.

Development in Uttarakhand cannot simply follow the same template used in plains-based states. Connectivity, access to essential facilities and sustainable economic opportunities must remain central to the planning process.

The government’s emphasis on tourism and industrial investment reflects an attempt to widen the state’s economic base.

Shah Predicts BJP’s Third Consecutive Government

The Home Minister also turned his attention towards the upcoming political contest in Uttarakhand.

He urged voters to choose between what he described as a development-oriented BJP government and a Congress administration associated with corruption.

Shah expressed confidence that the BJP would form the government for a third consecutive term in the state.

He also said Rahul Gandhi’s visits to Uttarakhand would not change the political outcome, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and Dhami’s development agenda.

The remarks underline the BJP’s intention to make governance, infrastructure, national security and economic growth central themes in its electoral campaign.

Uttarakhand’s 26-Year Journey Since Statehood

Uttarakhand Foundation Day, popularly known as Uttarakhand Divas, is observed every year on November 9.

The state was formed in 2000 after being carved out of Uttar Pradesh, becoming India’s 27th state.

Located in the Himalayan region, Uttarakhand shares international boundaries with China (Tibet) in the north and Nepal in the east.

Its natural wealth includes glaciers, rivers, forests and snow-covered mountain ranges. These resources have shaped its economy, tourism potential and strategic importance.

As Uttarakhand completes 26 years of statehood, infrastructure development, employment generation, migration and investment remain important policy priorities.

The Foundation Day announcements have placed these issues back in the spotlight.

The political messaging was equally clear. Shah used the occasion to challenge Congress’s narrative on electoral rolls while projecting the BJP’s development record as its strongest argument for another term.

CONCLUSION

Uttarakhand’s Foundation Day celebrations delivered two distinct messages: development announcements worth ₹1,508 crore and a direct political challenge to the Congress.

Amit Shah’s attack on Rahul Gandhi over SIR ensured that electoral politics remained at the centre of the event. But the larger question for Uttarakhand goes beyond political slogans.

The state needs reliable infrastructure, better employment opportunities, stronger industrial investment and a sustainable response to migration.

The BJP has presented its record as evidence of progress. The real measure of that progress will be how effectively these announcements translate into visible improvements across the state’s towns and remote mountain villages.