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Shah sets drug-free India by 2029 goal at Gujarat security review in Ahmedabad
The Home Minister went through policing, cybercrime, border and coastal security, narcotics and disaster management with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and senior officials, on the eve of Diwali.
Key points
- Amit Shah told Gujarat to draw up an action plan against narcotics and widen the 1933 control room, in line with a drug-free India by 2029.
- The review covered policing, cybercrime, border and coastal security and disaster management.
- Shah also gave guidance on drought, farmers' concerns, economic offences and encroachments.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level security review in Ahmedabad on Saturday, going through law and order, policing and internal security in Gujarat on the eve of Diwali, and told the state to work towards a drug-free India by 2029.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi were present, along with the Union Home Secretary and senior officers of the Home Ministry and its offices. State Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Das, Principal Secretary (Home) Sanjeev Kumar and Director General of Police G S Malik briefed the meeting on the state’s work, according to the Chief Minister’s Office.
Drugs first
Shah asked for a strict approach to narcotics and intoxicants. He directed the state to prepare an action plan, expand the scope of the 1933 control room, have all agencies run intensive enforcement drives and carry out wide social awareness campaigns. The goal he set was a drug-free India by 2029.
A long agenda
The review covered police modernisation, cybercrime, counter-terrorism, border and coastal security and cooperation between states. Officials also took up the criminal justice system, including the ICJS and CCTNS databases, e-Sakshya, special and evening courts, prosecution staffing and prisons.
On immigration and citizenship, the agenda included illegal Bangladeshi nationals, the Foreigners Identification Portal and district-wise data on citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act. Disaster management was also on the list, with the State Disaster Response Force, disaster funds and urban flood mitigation in Ahmedabad. Other items were the Vibrant Villages Programme, enemy properties, arms licences, the Agniveer scheme, POCSO cases, forensic affairs and preparations for the 2027 Census.
Guidance to the state
Beyond security, Shah offered suggestions to the Gujarat government on the drought situation and farmers’ concerns, as well as on what the release calls “Love Jihad”, economic offences, border districts and the removal of encroachments.
The release did not give arrest figures, case numbers or funding for any of the items discussed, and it carries no direct quotes from the Home Minister.