MUMBAI, Sep 13: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25 years of public service have been marked by “rare achievements” that have transformed India into a major global economic and security power.
Shah made the remarks while announcing the month long ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’, which will begin on September 17, Modi’s birthday, to commemorate his 25 years of public service. The campaign will showcase what the Home Minister described as major accomplishments in the fields of economy, national security, infrastructure and social welfare.
Shah said the milestone was significant as Modi completes 25 years in public life, during which he has served as chief minister of Gujarat and prime minister of the country.
Highlighting the government’s economic record, Shah said India had moved from the “Fragile Five” economies to the world’s top five and had emerged as the fastest-growing major economy. He cited GDP growth of 7.8 per cent in the first quarter of the current fiscal year as evidence of the country’s economic momentum.
On foreign policy, Shah said India had for the first time witnessed a strong approach based on the principle of “India First”. He said national interests had remained at the centre of the country’s foreign and defence policies.
Turning to national security, Shah said India had adopted a policy of giving a “befitting reply” to terrorist attacks targeting civilians and security personnel. He cited surgical strikes, air strikes and Operation Sindoor as examples of the government’s zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism.
Shah also referred to the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, saying a step that had once been considered impossible was achieved without bloodshed or firing a bullet. He said Jammu and Kashmir had subsequently become fully integrated with the rest of the country.
He also cited the abolition of triple talaq and expressed confidence that the Uniform Civil Code would be implemented in all 21 BJP- and NDA-ruled states before 2029.
The Home Minister said the country’s criminal justice framework had also undergone a major transformation through the new criminal laws, which, he said, were based on an Indian foundation and aimed at ensuring justice within three years.
Shah highlighted the government’s efforts against Naxalism and said more than 14 peace agreements and the surrender of over 9,000 people had helped put the Northeast on a development-oriented path.
On welfare, Shah said around 250 million people had been lifted out of multidimensional poverty. He highlighted initiatives providing access to bank accounts, healthcare, tap water, PM-KISAN assistance, sanitation, LPG connections, housing and electricity.
He described the Goods and Services Tax as a major step towards the vision of “one nation, one tax” and said the Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) trinity had created a strong foundation for digital governance.
Shah also credited banking reforms with helping the country overcome the non-performing assets crisis, saying public-sector banks had become profitable.
He said Production-Linked Incentive schemes and Make in India had strengthened India’s manufacturing capabilities and helped establish the country as a reliable global manufacturing and export hub.
The Home Minister further pointed to the rapid expansion of roads, railways, airports, metro systems, ports, waterways and digital infrastructure. Dedicated Freight Corridors, Vande Bharat trains, expressways and metro networks, he said, had taken the country’s infrastructure development to a new level.
According to Shah, the number of airports had increased from around 75 to nearly 150, while initiatives such as Digital India and Startup India had opened new opportunities for young people.
He also highlighted measures aimed at increasing women’s participation in public life and the economy, particularly the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, which provides for 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state legislative assemblies.
Women, he said, were increasingly making their presence felt in the armed forces, police, science, startups, drone technology and sports.
Shah also referred to major redevelopment and construction projects at religious and cultural sites, including the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, Kashi Vishwanath Dham, Mahakal Lok and Kedarnath.
He said the installation of the Sengol in the new Parliament building had contributed to the “Indianization” of democratic consciousness.
India’s growing capabilities in space were another achievement, Shah said, citing missions such as Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-L1.
According to the Home Minister, Modi had helped free the country from “policy paralysis, coalition constraints and weak decision-making”. He said the prime minister had personally reviewed long-pending projects with states, resulting in the completion of several initiatives that had remained stalled for decades.
Shah further claimed that India’s acceptance and standing on the international stage had increased considerably over the past 12 years. He said the prime minister’s views were now taken seriously on major global issues and that Indian passport holders were receiving greater respect abroad.
Citing a 68 per cent approval rating, Shah described Modi as one of the world’s most popular leaders and said 36 countries had honoured him with their highest civilian awards.
The Home Minister said the democratic mandate was a public certificate of performance, outcomes and delivery. He noted that voters had repeatedly elected Modi at both the state and national levels during his political career.
Shah said Modi had become the first prime minister in six decades to secure three consecutive terms, describing the mandate as a reflection of his achievements during his 25 years in public life.