An ironclad resolve in the national interest

An ironclad resolve in the national interest left Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Home Minister Amit Shah’s decision-making ability, commitment to national security, and role as one of the architects of modern India’s development will ensure that his name occupies a prominent place in the country’s political history Some forces that cannot bear to see India’s rapid march towards becoming a developed nation have become increasingly active in the country.

Their intention is to deliberately poison the national atmosphere and create instability. As a result, the internal security challenges confronting India have become increasingly complex. Just as violent protests erupted in Nepal and Bangladesh, certain anti-national elements have begun speaking of triggering similar agitations in India. With the support of some foreign powers, Opposition parties are talking about a ‘regime change’.

Attempts are being made to undermine democracy and threaten the Constitution authored under the stewardship of Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Efforts are also under way to fuel extremism in the country. Drug trafficking, which threatens to derail the lives of young people, is on the rise. Misinformation spread through social media and attempts to create social discord pose a serious threat to India’s social harmony.

However, no such instability will be allowed to take root in India, nor will the sinister designs of foreign powers be permitted to succeed. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, our country’s formidable Home Minister Amit Shah is ensuring that this does not happen. The era when security agencies would scramble to respond only after an incident had occurred is long past.

We are now in an era defined by Mr. Shah’s firm, farsighted, swift, direct, and comprehensive decision-making. That is why the citizens of India need not fear any such attempts at destabilisation. Whatever may be happening elsewhere in the world, India remains a nation governed by the Constitution of Dr. Ambedkar. No one will succeed in pushing the country into anarchy. Mr. Shah celebrated his birthday on Thursday.

While extending my birthday wishes to him, I pray to the Almighty to grant him the strength to maintain India’s internal security at the highest level and effectively counter anti-national elements. Historic decisions When comparing India before 2014 with India after 2014, one cannot look merely at the change of political power. One must also consider the country’s development aspirations, its approach to national security, the pace of infrastructure creation, India’s position on the global stage, and its willingness to resolve long-pending issues.

Mr. Modi’s leadership gave a new direction to the aspirations of the nation while Mr. Shah strengthened this journey through his organisational capabilities, political planning, and support for key decisions. Together, the Prime Minister’s farsighted vision and his colleague’s ability to implement it provide an important example of how transformative change can be achieved. As Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Mr.

Shah has taken several historic decisions. On August 5, 2019, he announced in Parliament the decision to revoke Article 370, which had granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. This decision became a milestone in safeguarding the country’s unity and integrity. Subsequently, development across Kashmir gained momentum, and the region became more closely integrated with the national mainstream.

He also took extremely firm measures to curb Naxalite activities within the country. Ending Naxalism is not merely about defeating armed extremist groups. It is equally important to provide roads, education, health care, employment, and administrative facilities to regions that have remained deprived of development for generations. Only by working simultaneously on the fronts of security and development can the foundations of peace be strengthened.

The ultimate success of this campaign will be measured by whether citizens in areas emerging from the shadow of violence can live with dignity. The determination with which Mr. Shah has confronted Naxalism and terrorism has established him as an iron man of our times. While strengthening internal security, he has also brought several insurgent groups in the north-eastern region into the national mainstream.

He has helped Parliament enact new laws, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, replacing several outdated colonial-era laws and giving India’s criminal justice system a modern framework. Strict action has also been taken, through the armed forces and intelligence agencies, against elements that threaten India’s sovereignty. Mr. Shah’s leadership is particularly evident in his firm opposition to foreign interference in India’s internal affairs.

He takes decisive action without yielding to pressure when it comes to safeguarding the country’s security and interests. Zero tolerance towards drugs He has consistently maintained that India’s youth must not be exploited through protests for political gains or anti-national causes. Although the right to protest is an essential feature of democracy, he has repeatedly made it clear that damage to public property and the use of violence will not be tolerated.

Mr. Shah has adopted a policy of zero tolerance towards drugs, which inflict enormous damage on the country’s younger generation. Under his guidance, Central investigative agencies and State police forces have coordinated their efforts to dismantle major drug-trafficking networks. Strict measures have been taken to dismantle international syndicates and prevent smuggling through border regions.

These government campaigns have resulted in the destruction of drugs worth crores of rupees. Between 2014 and 2025, more than 10 million kilograms of drugs were seized, with an estimated market value exceeding ₹1.65 lakh crore. In comparison, 173,000 drug traffickers were arrested between…