GST decision makes Diwali come early: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has intensified his Gujarat visits in view of the impending polls expressed happiness with the popular mood over the changes in the GST initiated by his government, particularly for the relief given to small and medium businesses.

“Everywhere, it is being said that Diwali has come a fortnight early this year,” Modi said, referring to changes in the GST regime on Friday.

The prime minister who is in Gujarat on a two-day tour beginning Saturday started off with a visit to Dwarkadheesh temple and had a string of engagements that included laying foundation stones for a bridge link between Dwarka and Bet Dwarka, an international airport at Rajkot, a public meeting at the temple town of Chotila before ending the day with dedicating the IIT at Gandhinagar to the nation.

Speaking at Dwarka, Modi said his government had made it clear at the outset that it would study the discrepancies in the GST for the first three months and then make the required changes.

“Our finance minister convinced everyone in the GST Council to make the changes. When policies are initiated with honest intention and people trust their government, there is effusive popular support to policy initiatives and I gratefully acknowledge that support. Thank you,” he said.

The prime minister also announced the setting up of the country’s first and biggest marine police training institute in Devbhoomi Dwarka

district of the Saurashtra region that will benefit the country. Coastal security up to five kms from the shoreline remains the duty of the marine police.

Interestingly, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had also commenced his three-day tour of Saurashtra region of the state 10 days ago from the Dwarkadheesh temple and also paid obeisance at Chotila where Modi held a public meeting on Saturday. Apparently aware of the social media campaign by the opposition that has been taking pot shots at the ruling party’s stress on development, Modi said development would remain the driving force of his government.

“We will take development to such heights that future generations will not even get to glimpse poverty.

Laying the foundation stone for an international airport at Rajkot, the prime minister said after BJP came to power in 1995, it has changed the face of Gujarat.

Arrogant rulers became helpless before people: Uddhav on GST relief- Refusing to share the euphoria of its ally BJP over the GST relief, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said that the Centre was compelled to bring changes in the tax regime as “arrogant rulers had become helpless before the might of people.” He said the country was restless due to the burden of taxes.