LUCKNOW: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said India's blood was not meant for shedding and added that adequate punishment in equal measure would be handed out to whoever would dare to that.
He claimed that PM Modi conveyed the message 'loud and clear' through Operation Sindoor during which the terror bases of Pakistan were destroyed by Indian forces.
Shah was addressing a gathering at an event to distribute appointment letters to over 60,000 newly selected police constables in Lucknow on June 15.
On the occasion, UP CM Yogi Adityanath handed over the letters to the new recruits. The event marked the biggest-ever direct recruitment drive for police constables in the history of the UP police.
Under the âCivil Police Direct Recruitment' drive, as many as 48,196 male and 12,048 female candidates have been selected by the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board.
While addressing the recruits, Shah attacked previous governments led by the Congress party for not being able to curb terrorist attacks across the country till 2014.
"Terrorist attacks used to happen every day under Congress' rule, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Coimbatore, Delhi, and don't even mention Kashmir. Pakistan tried to attack India thrice during PM Modi's rule. When tried in Uri, they were met with a surgical strike. After Pulwama attack, they were met with an air strike. After Pahalgam attack, the headquarters of terrorists were razed to the ground through Operation Sindoor."
Referring to the commitment of eradicating the menace of naxalism by March 31, 2026, the Union Home Minister said that during the last decade under Modi government, Naxalism's spread was reduced from over 11 states to just 3 districts.
"The country has become safe and secure. Naxalism was prevalent in 11 states of the country. After last 11 years of PM Modi, naxalism is present in only three districts now. Don't forget my words: By 31. 3. 2026, this country will be free from Naxalism," he reiterated.
Meanwhile, Shah, while referring to the recruitment drive for UP police constables, said that while modernisation of India's police forces began nationwide under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, Uttar Pradesh's efforts in this direction was taken only in 2017 after the formation of a BJP government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
"The Centre's reforms were not visible in UP from 2014 to 2017," Shah said.
Commending the Yogi government for holding the biggest ever recruitment drive in the state so far, Shah stated that the recruitment process was carried out transparently, without any influence of factors like caste, recommendation, or bribery.
He noted that the selected youth come from every caste, community, tehsil, and district of the state and were the part of the country's largest police force now.
"Till date, recruitments in the Police force were being done on the basis of caste. But today, all of you have been appointed because of transparency through technology. Today, there are CCTV cameras, control rooms, command centres, PCR One, and more than 150 FSL units. All of you have to take this forward. I am confident that you will move forward with the mantra of security, service and sensitivity," said the Union Home Minister.
Reflecting on the state's past law and order situation, Shah said: "The state's law and order were continuously deteriorating. But after the BJP government formed in the state in 2017, Yogi Adityanath became the Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh Police again started moving toward achieving new heights."
He also spoke about broader reforms being brought in through changes to the Indian Penal Code, Indian Evidence Act, and Civil Defence Act.
"I am telling you about these three laws today. In five years, a situation will arise in the country that if any FIR is lodged, the justice will be delivered maximum within three years even from the level of Supreme Court," he said.
Shah also said that India would be a global leader by 2047, with Uttar Pradesh playing a crucial role.
The home minister was accompanied by Yogi Adityanath, and Deputy Chief Ministers Brajesh Pathak and Keshav Prasad Maurya, among other senior officials.