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 2004 and 2014. After 2014, this figure rose to more than 761,000 arrests. Major operations have also been conducted against large drug cartels operating near India’s coastline and in international maritime zones, resulting in the seizure of drugs worth thousands of crores of rupees. These achievements reflect the success of the Union Home Ministry under Mr. Shah’s leadership.
Under Mr. Shah’s leadership, the Ministry of Home Affairs has become a strong and formidable pillar of India’s internal security. His guiding principle of ‘Nation First’ is clearly reflected in every decision he takes. In 2021, he had the distinction of becoming the first Minister of Cooperation after the government established a separate Ministry of Cooperation. Even after the 2024 Lok Sabha election, he has continued to manage the Home and Cooperation portfolios with considerable effectiveness. He has worked to curb irregularities in the cooperative sector and dismantle the monopolistic control exercised by several powerful families. Most importantly, he has given the cooperative movement a modern, technology-driven identity and strengthened its ability to meet the challenges of competition. This has, in turn, reinforced the rural agricultural economy.
Role of chief strategist
Mr. Shah is a man of firm resolve who stands by his word. He has been the architect of many victories of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and is a trusted guide and supporter of mine. In today’s India, only a handful of leaders are judged not by the number of years they have lived, but by the heights of achievement they have attained. Mr. Shah is one of those prominent leaders. He has played the role of chief strategist in securing unprecedented success for the BJP at the national level. His political influence began at the level of a booth worker and eventually reached the office of the country’s Home Minister. This journey bears testimony to his hard work, precise organisational skills, and strategic decision-making. At the age of 16, he became a volunteer of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The values instilled by the organisation are reflected in his political decisions and approach to public life.
I have met Mr. Shah many times over the past six to seven years. I have had hundreds of opportunities to discuss issues with him and listen to his thoughts. These interactions have given me firsthand experience of his ability to make precise and timely political decisions. Whenever I meet him as a friend and mentor, I see his compassionate side. Yet, when confronted with a difficult test, when finding a way out of a complex situation, or when dealing with people harbouring anti-national intentions, his uncompromising firmness becomes equally evident. I have personally witnessed Mr. Shah’s affection for Maharashtra, his deep interest in the State’s history and, in particular, his admiration and pride in the valour of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Our mutual trust, similarities in political thinking, and shared objective of ensuring that the Mahayuti government remains strong and stable have meant that he has always stood firmly by my side.
The decisions he has taken as Union Home Minister are a reflection of his resolute character. It is precisely these qualities that have earned him the reputation of being the Chanakya of the BJP. To truly understand his Chanakya-like qualities, one must examine the principles of Chanakya Niti. There are five major aspects. The first is the importance of education. Education is a person’s greatest friend, and an educated individual commands respect everywhere. Mr. Shah understands the importance of knowledge and learning. The second aspect is confidentiality. Whether one discusses personal thoughts, future plans, financial circumstances or family matters with him, one can be confident that he will maintain complete confidentiality. The third is management. Mr. Shah possesses an exceptional understanding of how to formulate a plan and translate it into reality. He has practical insights into planning and execution that one might not even encounter in an MBA curriculum. The fourth, and an extremely important principle, is avoiding arguments with foolish or ignorant people. One should not waste one’s energy engaging in arguments with certain individuals. At such times, remaining calm is often the best option. This is an important lesson one can learn from Mr. Shah. The fifth aspect is dedication to duty. A person’s identity is determined not by birth, but by deeds. He firmly believes that one’s position, authority and wealth must be used for the welfare of the people and the fulfilment of one’s responsibilities. He is known for working round the clock and maintaining a highly disciplined lifestyle. During election campaigns, he personally takes to the field and oversees meticulous planning down to the smallest details. His style of responding forcefully to questions of the Opposition in Parliament, backed by evidence, is widely recognised.
Mr. Shah’s decision-making ability, commitment to national security, administrative competence 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. My heartfelt wish is that Mr. Shah continues his tireless service to the nation with the same determination and dedication for many years to come.
Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra