Kochi/New Delhi, August 22(HS):

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, speaking at the Manorama News Conclave 2025 in Kochi, Kerala, highlighted the transformative political and economic journey India has embarked on under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He underscored the replacement of casteism, dynastic politics, and appeasement with a “politics of performance” that promises stability, development, and national security.

Shah emphasized that since 2014, India has witnessed a new era of long-term policymaking that has positioned the country among the world’s top four economies, credited to comprehensive reforms such as GST implementation and sustained infrastructure growth. On the security front, he pointed to the modernization of the military and successful counterterrorism operations such as surgical strikes and ‘Operation Sindoor,’ reinforcing India’s sovereign strength.

Addressing Kerala’s development challenges, the Home Minister attributed stagnation to entrenched Left ideology and vote-bank politics that have compromised national security and the law and order situation. He criticized the state government’s delayed action against the anti-national organization PFI, praising the Modi administration’s decisive ban. Despite Kerala’s 100% literacy rate, Shah lamented its high unemployment and called for the establishment of IT, semiconductor, port, and knowledge-based industries to unlock the state’s vast potential. He noted that from 2004 to 2014, disaster management funding amounted to 1,342 crore rupees, which rose substantially to 5,100 crore rupees in the last decade under Modi’s government.

Responding to concerns about delimitation in southern states, Shah dismissed apprehensions as baseless political diversion, assuring that no injustice will be meted out during future delimitation processes post-2027 census completion. He urged political parties to maintain moral governance standards, referencing the recent controversy around jailed elected officials.

The Home Minister also highlighted advances in internal security, citing significant reductions in violence in the Northeast, Left-wing extremism affected areas, and Jammu & Kashmir. He described recent reforms renaming the Indian Penal Code as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and lauded the modernization of the criminal justice system designed for digital-era efficiency.

Ending on a personal note, Shah praised PM Modi’s selflessness, stating that the 140 crore Indians are his true family, a stark contrast to prevailing dynastic politics. He affirmed that Modi’s decade-long governance will be remembered in history as a golden chapter of peace and development for India.

This address clearly framed the BJP-led government’s narrative of progress, national unity, security, and governance reforms ahead of upcoming political contests.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar