ગુજરાતી
English
June 11, 2026 | Gandhinagar: A four-page congratulatory letter issued by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel marking 12 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in office has triggered a political debate, with opposition leaders and activists questioning several claims made in the document.
In the letter, Patel described the Modi government’s 12-year tenure as a period of development, public welfare and good governance. He highlighted achievements such as the Narmada project, Vibrant Gujarat Summit, GIFT City, Dholera Special Investment Region, renewable energy expansion, the bullet train project and other infrastructure initiatives as milestones in Gujarat’s growth story.
The Chief Minister also praised Modi’s leadership, stating that millions of people had benefited from welfare schemes and that India’s global standing had strengthened significantly during the period.
However, critics argue that several development claims require closer scrutiny. They contend that the Narmada canal network remains incomplete and that detailed information regarding actual irrigation coverage has not been fully disclosed. They also claim that farmers in parts of Saurashtra and Kutch continue to face water-related challenges.
Farmer groups and opposition leaders have further alleged that large tracts of land are being acquired for renewable energy parks, transmission lines and industrial projects, particularly in Kutch, while affected landowners are struggling to secure adequate compensation.
Questions have also been raised about the performance of flagship projects such as GIFT City and Dholera. Critics argue that while these projects are frequently showcased as symbols of modern development, they have yet to achieve the scale of employment generation and economic activity originally envisioned.
Opposition leaders have additionally pointed to a list of around 130 issues that Gujarat leaders had claimed were pending with the central government before 2014. According to them, many of those issues remain unresolved despite the Bharatiya Janata Party being in power at both the Centre and in Gujarat for more than a decade.
Among the issues cited are the demand for a Western Railway headquarters in Gujarat, metro-city status for Ahmedabad and Surat, unresolved concerns related to fishermen detained by Pakistan, border infrastructure in Kutch, coastal security facilities and various demands related to agriculture, education and disaster relief funding.
Political observers say the Chief Minister’s letter has not only renewed attention on the achievements claimed by the Modi government but has also revived debate over long-pending issues and the broader impact of Gujarat’s development model.
No official response to the criticism had been issued by the state government or the BJP at the time of writing.
