Dehradun, Nov 6 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Friday that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel laid a strong foundation for the nation’s unity and integrity after Independence, and that Union Home Minister Amit Shah is now carrying that forward by strengthening India’s internal security.
“Carrying forward this same resolve, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is working tirelessly to strengthen the country’s internal security,” the chief minister said at the State Foundation Day ceremony at the Parade Ground in Dehradun.
He thanked Shah for attending the 26th anniversary of the state’s formation day as chief guest.
Congratulating officers and personnel, as well as the people of the state, Dhami said the conferment of the prestigious ‘President’s Police Colour’ upon the Uttarakhand Police is a proud achievement.
He said November 9 marks 26 years since the formation of Uttarakhand. “The late former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna recipient, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, honoured the struggle, sacrifices, and selflessness of the statehood agitators by realising the dream of a separate Uttarakhand state. Today, under the guidance and support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah, the state government is working to develop and bring prosperity to Uttarakhand, in line with the aspirations of those who fought for the state’s creation,” Dhami said.
He said certain forces are “attempting to create an atmosphere of confusion and confrontation” instead of engaging in meaningful discussions about development.
“While everyone in a democracy has the right to ask questions and express dissent, inciting the youth, spreading rumours, and encouraging violence are unacceptable. Maintaining a double standard regarding democratic institutions and electoral processes is inappropriate,” Dhami said.
He also highlighted that Himachal Pradesh’s budget — a state with similar geographical conditions — stands at approximately Rs 54,928 crore for this year. In contrast, Uttarakhand’s budget is approximately Rs 1,11,703 crore, reflecting the state government’s commitment to the state’s development.
Dhami said Uttarakhand is also making steady economic progress. “For the current year, the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is estimated at approximately Rs 3.82 lakh crore, with a per capita income of about Rs 2.74 lakh and an economic growth rate of nearly 7.23 per cent. The state’s per capita income is more than 25 per cent higher than the national average. These achievements serve as evidence of the progress being made towards transforming Uttarakhand into a developed and prosperous state,” the chief minister said.
On Friday, Shah and Dhami inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 62 development projects worth Rs 1475.31 crore, as part of the ‘Uttarakhand Rajyotsav’ (State Foundation Day celebrations) held from November 6 to 13.
On this occasion, they laid the foundation stones for 44 projects (across various departments) worth Rs 1073.11 crore and inaugurated 18 projects worth Rs 402.20 crore. The state government said these initiatives will strengthen infrastructure across sectors such as roads, electricity, drinking water, urban development, education, and tourism.
Lifetime Achievement Awards was conferred on folk singer Narendra Singh Negi and actor Hemant Pandey by the government. The government also presented the first ‘Chief Minister’s State Child Bravery Award’ to six children from the state.
Fifteen distinguished individuals from the state received the ‘Uttarakhand Gaurav Samman Award-2026’ for their contributions in various sectors.
(PTI News)
