Srinagar, Sep 6: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said the Narendra Modi government had taken several steps to strengthen India’s internal security, highlighting what he described as a decline in terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, the weakening of Naxalism and progress in the Northeast.

“Since Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of this country, the Government of India’s Home Ministry has taken several steps to strengthen the country’s internal security,” Shah said.

He said that when Modi became Prime Minister, the country was facing three major security challenges — growing terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, Naxalism and several armed groups in the Northeast that were keeping the region disturbed.

“When Modi ji became Prime Minister, the country was facing three major problems. Jammu and Kashmir and the growing terrorism there, Naxalism, and groups of several armed organisations in the Northeast that were keeping the Northeast disturbed,” he said.

Shah also recalled the wider internal security challenges facing the country at the time, including a series of bomb blasts and large protests over women’s safety.

“Besides this, on the internal security front, the country was very troubled by several bomb blasts everywhere. There were very large protests for the safety of women, and it was at that time that Modi ji took over as the Prime Minister of the country,” he said.

Looking back at the period since 2019, Shah said the abrogation of Article 370 had led to a significant decline in separatist sentiment in Jammu and Kashmir.

“From 2019 till now, when we look back under the leadership of Modi ji, after the removal of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, there has been a significant reduction in the feeling of separatism,” he said.

He claimed that terrorism-related figures in Jammu and Kashmir had steadily declined and were moving towards zero, while the Union Territory had progressed on the path of development.

“The figures of terrorism are gradually shrinking and appear to be moving towards zero. And Jammu and Kashmir has moved forward on the path of development,” Shah said.

He also said successful efforts had been made to bridge what he described as the emotional distance between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of India.

“There have also been successful efforts to erase the distance of hearts that existed between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of India,” he said.

On Naxalism, Shah said the five-decade-old problem had effectively become a thing of the past.

“The five-decade-old problem of Naxalism has today remained in the past,” he said.

Referring to the concept of a “Red Corridor” stretching from Tirupati to Pashupatinath, Shah said armed groups had laid down their weapons, surrendered and were seeking to join the mainstream.

“All those who imagined a Red Corridor from Tirupati to Pashupatinath have today laid down their arms, surrendered and come forward to join the mainstream,” he said.

Shah also highlighted developments in the Northeast, claiming that around 10,000 people had laid down their arms and that the Government of India had signed more than 14 agreements with armed groups.

“Similarly, in the Northeast too, approximately 10,000 people have laid down their arms, and the Government of India has entered into more than 14 agreements with them. Today, the Northeast too has, in a way, started moving on the path of development,” he said.

New Delhi, Sep 6: India on Sunday said a UN-initiated proposed world map must depict Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in accordance with the country’s official map, and any “inaccurate” or “misleading” representation will be unacceptable.

New Delhi’s assertion came two days after it voted in favour of a UN General Assembly resolution aimed at correcting the world map to promote a more accurate representation of continental landmasses.

The resolution titled “Correct the Map: Rebalancing Global Cartographic Representation and Promoting Equitable Representation of the World’s Regions, Particularly Africa” was adopted on September 4.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India highlighted that the resolution does not constitute endorsement of any specific map, projection or depiction of national boundaries.

“India voted in favour of the resolution and also made an explanation of vote stressing on the underlying principle of promoting equal – area cartographic representation,” he said.

Jaiswal was responding to a media query on the issue.

“India’s sovereign territory, including the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, must be depicted in accordance with India’s official map. Any inaccurate or misleading depiction is unacceptable,” he said.

“Our position on India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is clear, consistent and non-negotiable,” he noted.

Jaiswal said the purpose of the UN resolution is “to encourage the use of equal-area map projections that preserve the relative sizes of continental landmasses.”

“The resolution neither adopts nor authenticates any particular world map, nor does it address political cartography, including international boundaries, disputed territories or place names,” he said.

The resolution, sponsored by Togo, received 164 votes in favour, with abstentions from Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine, and a lone vote against from the United States.

Panaji, Sep 6: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s objective that drug-free youth power will lead to Viksit Bharat in 2047, and asserted the Union government has prepared a roadmap to make India drug-free by 2029.

The Modi government is committed to making the country drug-free to realise the dream of a developed India, just as it has worked to end the menace of Naxalism and terrorism, Shah said.

The Centre has adopted a coordinated, nationwide strategy to dismantle the entire narcotics network, from drug trafficking and financing to rehabilitation, as part of its goal of ‘Drug-Free India’ by 2029, he said.

“It is Narendra Modi’s objective that drug-free youth power will lead to Viksit Bharat in 2047,” Shah said while addressing a press conference after chairing a high level meeting on narcotics that was attended by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant as well as MHA and state government officials.

“Before 2014, the fight against narcotics was largely conducted in small units and isolation. Agencies were often satisfied catching small time accused. Our government is making the fight national security priority,” he said.

In 2019, a four-tier National Coordination Committee for Countering Drug Trafficking (NCORD) mechanism was created at the executive, state and district levels to ensure coordinated action against the drug menace.

“Dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTFs) have been constituted in all states and Union Territories and local police have been linked with the national strategy,” Shah said.

He said a Joint Coordination Committee was also formed in 2019 to enable central agencies and state governments to take joint decisions against major drug networks, their international connections and operational gaps.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has been strengthened by reorganising its cadre and enhancing its manpower, zonal presence and operational capabilities, Shah said while emphasising that the fight against drugs was not just limited to enforcement.

The government has linked awareness, treatment, counselling, rehabilitation and livelihood opportunities with the anti-narcotics campaign, he pointed out, adding that the 1933 MANAS helpline has been introduced to support persons with drug addiction.

The government is committed to achieving the goal of ‘Drug-Free India 2029’ through political will, coordinated enforcement and measures aimed at preventing addiction and rehabilitating victims, he said.

The Modi government’s three-year roadmap to a drug-free India is based on a four-pillared approach to destroy narcotic networks, Shah said.

“These pillars include intelligence and operation-based enforcement, control on synthetic drugs, demand and harm reduction and creation of capacity and coordination,” he explained.

Under the Narendra Modi regime, Jammu and Kashmir is on the path to progress and development after the decline of terrorism, which is gradually approaching zero there, he said.

The sentiment of separatism has lessened since the abrogation of Article 370, Shah said.

The Modi government’s broader internal security strategy had succeeded in addressing three long-standing challenges — terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, insurgency in the Northeast and Left-Wing Extremism, Shah said.

“The Modi government has taken various steps to improve and strengthen internal security. Those who dreamt of a ‘red’ (Maoist) corridor from Tirupati to Pashupati have laid down arms and joined the mainstream,” he said.

Referring to the Northeast, Shah said 14 major peace agreements had been signed since 2019 and around 11,000 armed youths had laid down their weapons and joined the mainstream.

He said India ended the nearly six-decade-old challenge of Left-Wing Extremism on March 31, 2026, through a coordinated strategy combining security, development and trust.

“We have eradicated Naxalism and will deal with menace of narcotics in the same manner,” the Union minister asserted.

Shah said the Centre has a target to demolish 100 national and international networks by March 2029 and bring back 100 fugitives to the country.

By March 2027, there will be clear end-to-end visibility of the supply chain while at least 75 secret labs would be destroyed in 2026, he said.

He said the government had also adopted a mission-mode approach to bring back fugitives hiding abroad.

Between July 2019 and July 2026, as many as 274 wanted or absconding criminals were brought back to India from 36 countries, he said.

Over the past three years, 401 Red Corner Notices have been issued, including 182 up to July 2026, Shah said.

He said more than 1,400 Central and state agencies were connected through Interpol, facilitating faster information sharing.

Between 2019 and 2026, assets worth Rs 17,874 crore belonging to fugitives were attached, while Rs 18,762 crore was recovered or restored, Shah informed.

Shah also highlighted the government’s efforts against cybercrime, saying the cyber system had helped save more than Rs 11,158 crore across 32.8 lakh complaints as of June 30, 2026.

He said strengthening border and coastal security, implementation of three new criminal laws and the Vibrant Villages Programme were among the measures taken to strengthen internal security.

The Union minister said the government has adopted a “zero tolerance” policy towards terrorism and a first-responder approach to disaster management.

He also praised the Goa police for effective implementation of the three new criminal laws saying the conviction rate has increased from 22 percent to 53.2 percent.

New Delhi, Sep 6: A five-storey building housing a boys’ PG collapsed in south Delhi’s Satya Niketan area on Sunday afternoon, leaving one dead and several people trapped, officials said.

The area is close to the heart of Delhi University’s South Campus and has congested lanes lined with student hostels and eateries. Locals claimed the building was nearly 20 years old and construction work in the basement was on when the incident occurred at around 1.30 pm.

Of the four patients the hospital received, two remain critical, and one was brought dead. One rescuer who was brought in has been discharged, AIIMS sources said.

Local police staff, fire brigade, CAT Ambulance and other emergency services are present at the spot. The NDRF team has also reached, and rescue and relief operations are underway, a police officer said.

A PCR call was received at South Campus police station at 1.34 pm regarding the collapse of a building near Nanakpura Gurdwara, the police said in a statement.

“The exact number of persons trapped/injured is not known at present. Some people have been rescued so far. Further details will be shared as and when confirmed,” read the statement.

Police said they have identified the building’s owner and have formed teams to trace him.

According to officials, the collapsed building was known as ‘Hostel Daze.’

Witnesses at the scene estimate that more than 20 people may be trapped under the rubble, but this figure has not been officially confirmed.

“The hostel was always full. So many people could still be trapped under the debris. The lanes are very congested, so it was difficult for rescue vehicles to arrive at the scene faster,” a local said.

Locals and eyewitnesses said they immediately joined the rescue efforts, using their hands and available tools to remove debris in their search for those trapped underneath.

An eyewitness commented that the incident could have been much worse had it occurred on a working day since many students from nearby areas had returned home. “Very few were here,” he said.

Rajen Chhetri, a local who works with the Delhi Police, said the building housed around 15 rooms, with two to three students sharing each room.

“Most of the students staying here are from Keralam, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and study mainly at Motilal Nehru College, Atma Ram Sanatan Dharm College and Sri Venkateswara College. They were paying around Rs 12,000 per bed,” Chhetri said.

“I have been living here for the last 20 years. Some construction work was going on in the basement, where water had started accumulating. The foundation was also extremely weak,” he said, adding that around 13 people had been rescued.

Delhi has witnessed incessant rains since Friday.

Priyanka, a local living in the area for the past 20-22 years, said, “Buildings here are being constructed up to five-six floors. Many houses have been converted into boys’ PGs, with the owners shifting elsewhere. They simply name the properties as PGs, take the rent online and leave the area without even checking back.”

“The PG that collapsed is over 20 years old, and in all these years, I have not seen any maintenance work being carried out. The whole of Satya Niketan is full of PGs. Hardly 30 per cent of the house owners actually live here,” she said.

“Even the gutters and sewers here are open. There were many students trapped inside the building. Since it was raining, most of them were in their rooms, while some had gone home as it was the weekend,” Priyanka said.

Police are advising locals and onlookers to stay away from the site, as bystanders are complicating rescue efforts. Both police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed to ensure ambulances move freely.

BJP MLA Anil Sharma reached the spot and informed that people are still trapped. “We are even getting calls from those who are trapped inside. Teams are continuously in touch with those who are trapped,” he said.