Key Highlights
- PM’s wishes: PM Narendra Modi greeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah on his birthday on Thursday.
- Praise for security: Modi credited Shah’s administrative skills for making internal security systems more effective.
- Two focus areas: The PM highlighted efforts against Maoism and towards a drug-free society.
- Record tenure: Shah has been Home Minister since 2019, the longest anyone has held the post.
- Long journey: He joined the RSS at 16 and later became BJP national president in 2014.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah turned 62 on Thursday, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to send wishes. In a post on X, the Prime Minister wrote, “Warm birthday greetings to Home Minister Shri Amit Shah Ji. His administrative understanding has ensured India’s internal security systems become more effective.”
He added, “Particularly noteworthy are the successes in eliminating the menace of Maoism and in furthering our dream of a society free from drugs. I pray that he is blessed with a long and healthy life in service of the people.”
Why These Two Issues Stood Out
The Prime Minister’s message focused on two areas that have been central to the Home Ministry’s work in recent years. The government has run a sustained campaign against Left-wing extremism in states such as Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha. At the same time, the anti-drug drive has been a major public messaging focus.
Just two days ago, on Dussehra, Shah attended a Ravana Dahan programme in Ludhiana, Punjab, where an effigy symbolising drug abuse was burnt alongside Ravana, underlining the government’s push on the issue.
Early Years and Entry Into Politics
Amit Shah was born in 1964 in Mumbai to Gujarati parents. At 16, he joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and began working with its student wing, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
His first organisational role came in 1989, when he was made secretary of the BJP’s Ahmedabad unit.
Rise in Gujarat Politics
Shah contested his first election in 1997 from the Sarkhej Assembly constituency and went on to serve as an MLA until 2017, later representing Naranpura. In 2002, he was made a minister in the Gujarat Cabinet, working closely with then Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
On the National Stage
In 2014, Shah became the National President of the BJP and is widely seen as one of the party’s chief strategists. He is the Member of Parliament from Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Since 2019, he has served as India’s 31st Minister of Home Affairs, the longest-serving holder of the office in the country’s history. In July 2021, he also became India’s first Minister of Cooperation.
Key Milestones
His tenure as Home Minister has included the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, several internal security reforms and a focus on cooperative federalism.
Why It Matters
The Prime Minister’s message reflects the close working relationship between the two leaders, which dates back to their years in Gujarat. It also signals the government’s continuing emphasis on internal security and anti-drug measures as key priorities.
What Comes Next
Wishes from leaders across parties and states are expected to pour in through the day as the Home Minister marks his birthday.
This story is based on a post shared on PM Narendra Modi’s official X account, with inputs from IANS.
Key Highlights
- PM’s wishes: PM Narendra Modi greeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah on his birthday on Thursday.
- Praise for security: Modi credited Shah’s administrative skills for making internal security systems more effective.
- Two focus areas: The PM highlighted efforts against Maoism and towards a drug-free society.
- Record tenure: Shah has been Home Minister since 2019, the longest anyone has held the post.
- Long journey: He joined the RSS at 16 and later became BJP national president in 2014.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah turned 62 on Thursday, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to send wishes. In a post on X, the Prime Minister wrote, “Warm birthday greetings to Home Minister Shri Amit Shah Ji. His administrative understanding has ensured India’s internal security systems become more effective.”
He added, “Particularly noteworthy are the successes in eliminating the menace of Maoism and in furthering our dream of a society free from drugs. I pray that he is blessed with a long and healthy life in service of the people.”
Why These Two Issues Stood Out
The Prime Minister’s message focused on two areas that have been central to the Home Ministry’s work in recent years. The government has run a sustained campaign against Left-wing extremism in states such as Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha. At the same time, the anti-drug drive has been a major public messaging focus.
Just two days ago, on Dussehra, Shah attended a Ravana Dahan programme in Ludhiana, Punjab, where an effigy symbolising drug abuse was burnt alongside Ravana, underlining the government’s push on the issue.
Early Years and Entry Into Politics
Amit Shah was born in 1964 in Mumbai to Gujarati parents. At 16, he joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and began working with its student wing, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
His first organisational role came in 1989, when he was made secretary of the BJP’s Ahmedabad unit.
Rise in Gujarat Politics
Shah contested his first election in 1997 from the Sarkhej Assembly constituency and went on to serve as an MLA until 2017, later representing Naranpura. In 2002, he was made a minister in the Gujarat Cabinet, working closely with then Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
On the National Stage
In 2014, Shah became the National President of the BJP and is widely seen as one of the party’s chief strategists. He is the Member of Parliament from Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Since 2019, he has served as India’s 31st Minister of Home Affairs, the longest-serving holder of the office in the country’s history. In July 2021, he also became India’s first Minister of Cooperation.
Key Milestones
His tenure as Home Minister has included the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, several internal security reforms and a focus on cooperative federalism.
Why It Matters
The Prime Minister’s message reflects the close working relationship between the two leaders, which dates back to their years in Gujarat. It also signals the government’s continuing emphasis on internal security and anti-drug measures as key priorities.
What Comes Next
Wishes from leaders across parties and states are expected to pour in through the day as the Home Minister marks his birthday.
This story is based on a post shared on PM Narendra Modi’s official X account, with inputs from IANS.