Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah reviewed Gujarat's law and order, public safety and security preparedness at a high-level meeting in Ahmedabad on Saturday, 7 November.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi attended the meeting. The review covered the state's security preparedness across several areas.
What was discussed
Discussions at the meeting covered cybercrime, police modernisation, border and coastal security, narcotics, disaster management, forensics, counterterrorism and Census 2027.
The range of subjects shows the breadth of the review. It was not limited to one area of policing, but took in the full set of security and safety issues facing the state.
Focus on narcotics
Shah stressed stringent anti-narcotics action at the meeting. He also pushed for a comprehensive plan for a drug-free India by 2029.
The plan includes expanding the 1933 control room, which handles narcotics-related complaints. The expansion is meant to strengthen the state's ability to act against drug trafficking and use.
The drug-free India target
The 2029 target for a drug-free India is a national goal, and Gujarat's review is part of the work towards it. The meeting in Ahmedabad looked at what the state needs to do to meet that target.
Narcotics was one of the main subjects of the review, alongside cybercrime and border and coastal security. The emphasis on stringent action signals that enforcement will be a priority.
Police modernisation and forensics
Police modernisation and forensics were also on the agenda. These are areas where the state has been investing, and the review looked at how that work is progressing.
Disaster management and counterterrorism were discussed as well, along with the preparations for Census 2027. The meeting took stock of the state's readiness across these areas.
Who attended
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi were present at the high-level meeting. Their presence shows the importance the state government placed on the review.
The meeting was held in Ahmedabad, the state capital, and brought together the state's top leadership with the Union Home Minister.
What happens next
The review sets the direction for Gujarat's security work in the coming months. The drug-free India plan, the expansion of the 1933 control room and the modernisation of the police will be the areas to watch.
The meeting's decisions will now have to be carried out by the state police and the departments concerned, with the 2029 target as the deadline for the narcotics plan.
