Ahmedabad: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Thursday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 84 development projects worth Rs. 340 crore in the Kalol and Gandhinagar North Assembly constituencies. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel was also present on the occasion. Prior to the event, both leaders participated in a tree plantation drive.

The projects inaugurated and launched included works undertaken by the Gandhinagar Urban Development Authority (GUDA), the Panchayat Department, and the Roads and Buildings Department, with support from government departments and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds from private organisations. Railway underbridge projects were also inaugurated and their foundation stones laid during the programme.

Addressing the gathering, Amit Shah credited the Bhupendra Patel-led Gujarat government with accelerating development across the state. He said the Centre and the state government are working with a firm resolve to make the Gandhinagar parliamentary constituency the most developed region in the country.

He stated that development works worth Rs. 340 crore were inaugurated in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency on Thursday, while projects worth nearly Rs. 1,200 crore have been undertaken in the last 10 days alone. According to Shah, this reflects the intensified efforts of both the Centre and the state government to make villages self-reliant with the support of CSR funds from industrial houses.

Shah said the government’s priority is not limited to financial assistance but also includes ensuring that every village is equipped with essential facilities. He said quality education, healthcare, sanitation, and clean drinking water facilities are being strengthened to ensure a dignified life for every citizen.

The Home Minister also said rural libraries have been established to promote reading habits among youth, and these libraries will be connected with the Gandhinagar library network. He added that the government has set a target to ensure that every village in Gandhinagar has a library, garden, and recreational facilities by 2029.

Shah further said that the “Gujarat Development Model” introduced during Narendra Modi’s tenure as Chief Minister has now gained nationwide recognition from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Somnath to Gangasagar.

Referring to national security issues, Shah said fencing work along the Bangladesh border is progressing rapidly. He claimed that infiltration, which occurred frequently during previous governments, has now significantly reduced. He added that detention centres have been established, and individuals who voluntarily leave the country would not face prosecution, while the government would also assist them.

He further said the government is committed to identifying and removing illegal infiltrators from the country. Shah announced that a “Demographic Change Commission” would be formed under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to investigate demographic changes in the country and submit its report within a year. He added that strict laws could also be introduced if required.

Paying tribute to Vinayak Damodar Savarkar on his birth anniversary, Shah described him as a patriot remembered across the country as “Veer Savarkar”. He noted that Savarkar was sentenced to two life terms during the freedom movement and highlighted his contributions to social reforms, including efforts to eradicate untouchability and promote social equality.

Concluding his address, Shah reiterated his commitment to making the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency the most developed constituency in the country and appealed to citizens to actively participate in the development journey. DeshGujarat