Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Haldwani, hails Uttarakhand’s growth under BJP rule

March 21, 2026

Haldwani:  Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday underscored the achievements of the “double-engine” BJP government in Uttarakhand across sectors such as tourism, infrastructure, employment, women empowerment and welfare of ex-servicemen, while praising Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for his leadership.

Watch Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s address in Haldewani here 

हल्द्वानी (उत्तराखंड) में आयोजित विशाल जनसभा में संबोधन। https://t.co/f16Thiarr2

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) March 21, 2026

Addressing an event in Haldwani to mark four years of the BJP government in the state, Singh said, “I bow in respect to the bravery and spirit of the people of Uttarakhand. This land is deeply connected with faith, devotion, and spirituality… the Devbhoomi… and people here have immense respect for the divine.”

“I am well acquainted with the nature of the people here. The people of Uttarakhand are very gentle by nature. However, I have observed that whenever the need arises, despite their gentle nature, the only place where you can see a deep sense of strength and resilience, like the mountains, is only in Uttarakhand,” he said.

The Defence Minister stated that the “pure land” of Uttarakhand infuses new energy into the spirituality of India. “This land has been the home to seers for years. If any state is seen as the place of austerities in India, then it’s Uttarakhand. The tradition of knowledge, devotion and respect of people of Uttarakhand gives a path to the country,” he added.

Dhurandhar Dhami 

Praising Dhami’s tenure, Singh said, “After Pushkar Singh Dhami became the Chief Minister, he has taken a lot of developmental works for the state. After listening to Pushkar Dhami, I can say that during the elections, I had told people that whoever wins, it will be under the leadership of Pushkar Dhami that the Bharatiya Janata Party will secure victory. And you saw that at that time, the BJP achieved a clear majority.” “He is not a normal Dhami but a ‘Dhakkad’ Dhami, and now he should be known as ‘Dhurandhar’ Dhami,” he added.

“No one could have imagined that a government would be able to do so much work in such a small state as Uttarakhand. Today, Uttarakhand has achieved several milestones in various fields. I would like to say that the government under the leadership of Pushkar Dhami, which has completed four years, deserves to be appreciated with a round of applause,” he said.

Reflecting on the BJP’s governance in the state, the Defence Minister added, “Be it infrastructure, tourism, employment or women empowerment, Pushkar Singh Dhami has done significant work in all fields.” He also paid tribute to those who fought for the creation of Uttarakhand, describing the state not only as Devbhoomi and Tapobhoomi but also as Veerbhoomi. “Apart from being Devbhoomi and Tapobhoomi, Uttarakhand is also known as Veerbhoomi (land of brave people) of the country. When it comes to protecting the borders of the country, our brothers and sisters of Uttarakhand lay down their lives too,” Singh said.