Mumbai, Sep 13 (IANS) Asserting that open dialogue and consensus-building form the core tenets of the current administration, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday stated that running the government by imposing an Emergency is “not our culture,” contrasting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) governance philosophy with that of the opposition Congress.
HM Shah made these remarks during a press conference responding to media queries regarding the societal and political impacts of recent Gen Z student demonstrations across the nation.
Addressing questions on public unrest and youth-led protests, the Home Minister emphasised that dissent is a fundamental feature of democratic governance.
“We live in a vibrant democracy. People naturally hold diverse views on various issues, and expressing those opinions is essential,” HM Shah remarked. “Our government does not believe in governing by declaring an Emergency. That reflects the culture of the Congress party. Our ethos is fundamentally different—we prioritise open discussion, engagement, and continuous dialogue with citizens,” he said.
Maintaining a firm stance on national security alongside democratic discourse, the Home Minister reiterated the government’s resolve regarding illegal immigration, asserting that every illegal infiltrator will be identified and deported from the country.
During the press conference, HM Shah announced the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) upcoming ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’, scheduled to take place across the country from September 17 to October 17. The initiative marks Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s completion of 25 continuous years in high public office, spanning his tenures as Chief Minister of Gujarat and subsequently as Prime Minister of India.
Highlighting PM Modi’s self-identification as the nation’s Pradhan Sevak (Prime Servant), the Home Minister noted that the campaign will showcase major policy breakthroughs while organising public welfare activities nationwide.
The month-long campaign features a structured 12-point action plan designed to drive developmental and social engagement across every block and taluka level. The Seva Setu Abhiyan will be launched to ensure total saturation and delivery of central government welfare schemes at the local level. Nationwide blood donation drives, specialised Anganwadi services, and community outreach programmes (Namo Seva) will also be organised, said HM Shah.
He added that there will be Seva Jyoti Kalash Yatra, cultural musical-theatrical performances, and bidirectional pilgrimage journeys connecting Vadnagar and Varanasi.
The Home Minister underscored Prime Minister Modi’s unique milestone of serving continuously for 25 years as head of government—first as Chief Minister of Gujarat and subsequently as Prime Minister of India. He paid tribute to the Prime Minister’s leadership philosophy, noting that it aligns with Guru Nanak’s teachings and the ideals of Saint Samarth Ramdas’s concept of ‘Upbhog Shunya Swami’ (a leader who serves without personal self-interest or desire for consumption), defining himself as the nation’s Pradhan Sevak (Prime Servant).
Contrasting current administration outcomes with earlier eras, HM Shah stated that prior to 2014, the nation was heavily stymied by corruption, casteism, and dynastic politics. ”Under PM Modi’s leadership, these systemic issues have been decisively eradicated,” the Home Minister said. “India has pulled 25 crore people out of poverty, established itself as the world’s fastest-growing major economy, significantly enhanced its global standing, and strengthened the value of the Indian passport,” he added.
The Home Minister further said, “Direct benefit transfers arrive straight into bank accounts, and 13 crore farmers are receiving financial support through the PM-Kisan scheme. Further, 11 crore families have benefited from the Ujjwala Gas scheme, and 3 crore women have been empowered to become Lakhpati Didis.”
“Through the modernisation and expansion of railways, India has reached the next level. We revoked Article 370 without shedding a single drop of blood. We have developed culturally significant landmark sites such as the Ram Mandir and Kashi Vishwanath, and successfully executed groundbreaking space missions like Chandrayaan-3,” he noted.
–IANS
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