Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on August 16 inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 944 development projects worth ₹5,755 crore across 15 districts of Rajasthan. The event was held in Chittorgarh, where Shah also unveiled a 21-foot-tall statue of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary.
Several dignitaries, including Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, were present at the event.
According to Shah, the statue of Vajpayee has been installed at a cost of more than ₹1.5 crore. The event also provided a platform for discussions on Vajpayee’s political journey, Vande Mataram, tribal welfare and development measures in Rajasthan.
944 Projects Cover 15 Districts
Addressing the gathering, Shah said that 944 development projects worth ₹5,755 crore had been inaugurated or had their foundation stones laid across 15 districts of Rajasthan.
The projects formed the main development component of the Chittorgarh event.
Shah also used the occasion to speak about the significance of Vande Mataram during India’s freedom movement and its role in this year’s Independence Day celebrations.
He said that for the first time in the 80 years since Independence, Vande Mataram was sung at the ramparts of the Red Fort and during Independence Day celebrations across the country.
According to Shah, people involved in India’s freedom movement had chanted Vande Mataram while facing imprisonment, bullets and lathi charges.
He also referred to the composition of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and the significance of the song as the country marked 150 years since its composition.
Shah criticised opposition parties over their approach to Vande Mataram and also commented on an Independence Day programme held at the headquarters of the main opposition party.
Amit Shah Highlights Vajpayee’s Political Journey
A major part of Shah’s address focused on former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Shah said Vajpayee followed the path of nationalism from his childhood. He became a pracharak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and later worked with the Jana Sangh.
Vajpayee was elected as a Member of Parliament from Balrampur at the age of 33.
Shah said Vajpayee remained in the opposition for four decades while continuing to follow his principles of nationalism and nation first.
He also recalled that Vajpayee faced imprisonment and lathi charges during his political journey but did not abandon his principles.
According to Shah, Vajpayee took several major decisions after becoming Prime Minister.
These included transforming India into a nuclear power, undertaking efforts to connect villages with roads and constructing national highways under the Golden Quadrilateral project.
Shah also highlighted the establishment of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs during Vajpayee’s tenure.
He said the ministry was established for the country’s tribal communities and was the first separate ministry dedicated to tribal affairs.
Shah also referred to President Droupadi Murmu while discussing the importance of tribal welfare.
Tribal Welfare Takes Centre Stage
Shah also spoke about initiatives related to tribal welfare under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said the budget for the Scheduled Tribe Component had increased from ₹25,000 crore to ₹1,25,000 crore.
He also highlighted the observance of Bhagwan Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas.
According to Shah, tribal leaders have been appointed as Chief Ministers in Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Arunachal Pradesh.
He further said that museums dedicated to 10 tribal freedom fighters had been established and that 772 Eklavya Vidyapiths had been set up.
Shah also described Vajpayee’s contributions as a journalist, poet and Prime Minister. He said Vajpayee promoted nationalism through his writing, patriotism through his poetry and national security and good governance as Prime Minister.
He referred to Vajpayee as ‘Ajatshatru’, meaning one who has no enemies.
Shah Highlights Rajasthan’s Water Connections
Shah also highlighted the expansion of household water connections in Rajasthan under the Har Ghar Nal Se Jal scheme.
He said that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the scheme in Rajasthan, water was reaching only 11 lakh households.
According to Shah, the figure has since increased to 64 lakh households.
He compared this with the 11 lakh household connections that he attributed to the main opposition party over 70 years.
Shah also said that the Bhajan Lal Sharma government had taken steps to address water scarcity in Rajasthan.
According to him, the state government signed three major agreements aimed at providing water to millions of people.
Rajasthan Government’s Development Measures
Shah also highlighted several measures undertaken by the Rajasthan government under Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.
He said the Rising Rajasthan event attracted investments worth ₹35 lakh crore and led to the formulation of 36 new policies.
According to Shah, job fairs have provided 178,000 jobs.
He also said gas cylinders were being supplied for less than ₹450 and that gas cylinder subsidies totalling ₹1,128 crore had been disbursed so far.
Shah further said the Bhajan Lal government had expanded the central government’s free medical treatment facility through the Pradhan Mantri-Mukhyamantri Ayush Arogya Yojana.
According to him, the scheme’s benefits had reached 45 lakh people.
The state government has also introduced the Lado Protsahan Yojana and launched a campaign aimed at making Rajasthan greener.
Development and Political Remarks
The Chittorgarh event brought together the inauguration and foundation laying of development projects with a tribute to Vajpayee on his death anniversary.
Shah also used his address to discuss the legacy of Vajpayee, Vande Mataram, tribal welfare, household water connections and development measures in Rajasthan.
He also made political remarks about opposition leaders in Rajasthan and their internal differences.
Shah said Rajasthan was poised to make significant progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.
The 944 projects, valued at ₹5,755 crore and spread across 15 districts, formed the key development announcement at the event in Chittorgarh.
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