SRINAGAR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday described the abrogation of Article 370 as a major achievement of the Narendra Modi government, saying the move had integrated Kashmir with the rest of the country.
Addressing a gathering in New Delhi ahead of flagging off the ‘Run for Unity’ on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, Shah said the government had taken several significant decisions, including the abrogation of Article 370, the elimination of Naxalism and the introduction of the One Nation, One Tax system.
He said the next major national goal was to make India completely free from drugs by December 31, 2029, calling for collective efforts to protect young people from substance abuse.
“When we succeed in building a drug-free India, it will be the most significant achievement among all these initiatives for the country’s youth and its future,” Shah said.
Describing a ‘Nasha-Mukt Bharat‘ as the foundation of ‘Viksit Bharat‘, he said the country needed a united effort to tackle the drug menace and build a stronger and more prosperous nation.
The Home Minister also said India had moved beyond the shadow of Naxalism on March 31 this year and was now working towards eliminating drug abuse.
Highlighting the significance of national unity, Shah said India’s linguistic, cultural, traditional and religious diversity was a source of strength and reflected the message associated with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Shah flagged off the ‘Run for Unity’ at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium as part of the National Unity Day celebrations.
October 31 is observed annually as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas to mark Patel’s contribution to India’s national integration. The observance was instituted in 2014.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Valley of Flowers near the Statue of Unity at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat on Friday during his two-day visit to the state. He also watched a theatrical presentation of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s ‘Anand Math’.
Spread across 24 acres, the Valley of Flowers has been developed as a biodiversity conservation and eco-tourism attraction, with around 14 lakh plants belonging to 112 species, according to information shared about the project.
