Dehradun, November 2026: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday welcomed and felicitated Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah at the State Foundation Day celebrations held at Parade Ground in Dehradun. Extending greetings on behalf of the people of the state, Dhami said Shah's visit ahead of Uttarakhand's 26th Foundation Day was a moment of pride and happiness for the people.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said the state government was working continuously to transform Uttarakhand into a developed and prosperous state under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Recalling India's post-Independence history, Dhami said Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had laid a strong foundation for the country's unity and integrity. He said Amit Shah was carrying forward that legacy by strengthening India's internal security.
The Chief Minister highlighted several major decisions taken under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, including the abrogation of provisions of Article 370, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the introduction of three new criminal laws. He said these measures had strengthened national unity, security and the justice system.
He further stated that decisive action against terrorism, separatism and Naxalism had helped create an environment conducive to peace and development. The Cooperation Ministry's 'Sahkar Se Samriddhi' initiative, he added, was creating new opportunities for farmers, livestock rearers and small entrepreneurs to become economically self-reliant.
Uttarakhand Police receives President's Police Colour
Dhami described the conferment of the prestigious President's Police Colour on Uttarakhand Police as a matter of immense pride for the entire state. He congratulated all police officers and personnel for the recognition and expressed gratitude to the Union Home Minister.
The Chief Minister recalled that Uttarakhand would complete 26 years of its formation on November 9. He credited former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna awardee Atal Bihari Vajpayee with fulfilling the aspirations of the people by creating a separate state in recognition of the sacrifices and struggles of the statehood movement.
He said the present government was committed to fulfilling the aspirations of the people who had fought for Uttarakhand's formation.
Focus on connectivity, tourism and employment
Highlighting the development initiatives undertaken by the state government, Dhami said the coordinated efforts of the Centre and the state had accelerated progress in connectivity, infrastructure, tourism, industries and self-employment.
He said the double-engine government was working to improve basic facilities and create new employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for the people.
The Chief Minister also referred to what he described as attempts by certain forces to create confusion and confrontation instead of engaging in constructive discussions on development. He said questioning the government and expressing disagreement were democratic rights, but misleading young people, spreading rumours and encouraging violence could not be accepted.
Referring to recent programmes under the 'Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao' campaign in Srinagar and Rudrapur, Dhami said these events had witnessed significant public participation. He asserted that the people of Uttarakhand wanted development, good governance and stability.
Uttarakhand records progress across sectors
Presenting the state's economic and developmental achievements, Dhami compared Uttarakhand's budget with that of Himachal Pradesh, which has similar geographical conditions.
He said Himachal Pradesh's budget for the current year was approximately Rs 54,928 crore, while Uttarakhand's budget stood at around Rs 1,11,703 crore.
The Chief Minister also highlighted Uttarakhand's performance in various national assessments and development indicators.
According to him:
Uttarakhand secured the first position in NITI Aayog's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index.
The state received a Rs 200-crore award from the Centre for reforms in the mining sector.
Uttarakhand was recognised as the best state among Himalayan and northeastern states in fisheries development.
The state received recognition as a Best Adventure and Best Wildlife Destination.
Uttarakhand also received the national award for Most Film Friendly State for its efforts to promote film production.
Economic growth and rising per capita income
Dhami said Uttarakhand was making consistent progress on the economic front. The state's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is estimated at approximately Rs 3.82 lakh crore this year, while per capita income is projected at around Rs 2.74 lakh.
The state is expected to register an economic growth rate of approximately 7.23 per cent. He added that Uttarakhand's per capita income was more than 25 per cent above the national average.
According to the Chief Minister, these figures reflected the progress being made towards the goal of transforming Uttarakhand into a developed and prosperous state.
He reiterated that the people of Devbhoomi expected development, security and sensitive, accountable governance. The state government, he said, remained committed to meeting these expectations under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Dhami also appealed to citizens to protect democratic values, maintain peace and social harmony, and actively participate in the state's overall development.
Several prominent leaders attend the celebrations
The programme was attended by former Uttarakhand Chief Ministers Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Vijay Bahuguna, Tirath Singh Rawat and Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank'.
Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Ajay Tamta, BJP Uttarakhand president and Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Bhatt, Rajya Sabha MPs Naresh Bansal, Anil Baluni, Ajay Bhatt and Bansuri Swaraj were also present.
Several state cabinet ministers, including Satpal Maharaj, Ganesh Joshi, Madan Kaushik, Khajan Das, Subodh Uniyal, Dhan Singh Rawat, Saurabh Bahuguna and Rekha Arya, attended the event along with other public representatives, senior officials and a large gathering of citizens.
