Mahendragarh: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, today addressed the ‘Pichhda Varg Samman Sammelan’ at Mahendragarh, Haryana. The event witnessed the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, and Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Rao Inderjit Singh, and Krishan Pal Gurjar among other dignitaries.
In his address, Amit Shah highlighted Haryana’s notable contributions to India, specifically its significant number of military personnel, athletes, and high food grain production. He praised the Haryana Cabinet’s recent decisions to increase the creamy layer limit from Rs. 6 to 8 lakh, excluding salaries and agricultural income, and to implement reservations in Panchayats and Municipal Corporations. Shah commended these measures as aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public welfare policies.
Reflecting on Prime Minister Modi’s first speech in Parliament in 2014, Shah reiterated the government’s commitment to Dalits, the poor, and backward communities. He emphasized the representation of backward classes in the Union Cabinet, noting that 27 of the 71 ministers hail from these communities, including two from Haryana. Shah underscored that Prime Minister Modi has honored the entire OBC community nationwide.
Shah recounted the historical context of OBC reservations, pointing out the delays and opposition faced by the Kaka Kalelkar and Mandal Commissions. He lauded Prime Minister Modi’s efforts in granting constitutional recognition to the OBC Commission and instituting 27 percent reservations in Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, Sainik Schools, and NEET examinations. Furthermore, he noted the exclusion of agriculture and salary income in the creamy layer limit, marking a significant policy shift.
Amit Shah highlighted several welfare initiatives launched by the Haryana Government for backward classes, including appointing a backward class person as the Chief Minister. He criticized previous governments for promoting casteism and corruption and praised the Modi government for transforming Haryana’s image from “Ease of Doing Corruption” to “Ease of Doing Business.”
The Minister outlined Haryana’s development milestones under the Modi government, such as becoming the largest exporter of basmati rice, the state’s significant military contribution, and the highest procurement of crops at MSP. He noted Haryana’s achievements in land ownership under Lal Dora, the education of Panchayats, women’s participation, and household water supply. The establishment of the first AYUSH University, high per capita GST collection, substantial economic contributions, and notable rankings in milk production and social security pensions were also highlighted.
Shah contrasted the development efforts of the Modi government with those of previous administrations, noting the significant increase in financial support to Haryana from Rs. 41,000 crore over ten years under the previous government to Rs. 2,69,000 crore under Modi’s leadership. He mentioned the construction of 12 expressways, metro rail projects, the Hisar airport, and the establishment of AIIMS in Rewari and an IIT Delhi campus in Jhajjar.