Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress on Monday, accusing the “corrupt” party of being concerned with only “preserving its dynasty” and challenged it to fight elections on the issue of development.
Modi was addressing a massive rally organised by the state BJP to celebrate the conclusion of the saffron party’s ‘Gujarat Gaurav Yatra’ (march for Gujarat’s honour). Gujarat is scheduled to go to polls soon.
“Communalism, casteism, dynastic rule, misleading the people — these are the instruments which Congress uses to win elections. They don’t have it in them to win on the issue of development,” the prime minister said.
“This election is a duel between development and dynastic rule. Development is going to win and dynastic rule is going to lose,” he added.
Modi accused the Congress of treating Gujarati leaders “unfairly” and named Sardar Patel and former Prime Minister Morarji Desai among the party’s victims.
He also accused the Gandhi family of insulting non-Gandhis and said, “Non-Gandhis have always been insulted in the Congress. They don’t like Gujarat and Gujaratis. When Morarji Desai became prime minister, they spread rumours about what he drank and what he didn’t. They didn’t talk about his ideals, about his dedication to Mahatma Gandhi’s cause.”
Recounting the BJP’s victory in Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, the Prime Minister said party chief Amit Shah was behind its success.
“BJP’s victory in Uttar Pradesh elections surprised everyone. Amit Shah was man of the match of the Uttar Pradesh election. He was behind BJP’s success in Uttar Pradesh,” he added.
On the issue of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the prime minister said it was a collective decision of all political parties and state governments and that the Centre was only a small part in the decision-making process.
“You are all partners in this decision… The central government is only a 30th part in the entire GST Council,” Modi said, indicating that the responsibility for the problems because of the new tax regime could not rest solely with his office.
“I had said it is a new tax regime and I will review it after three months. And we not only reviewed it, but are trying to resolve all ticklish issues and all gaps relating to it. I assure our huge trading community that the government is committed to ensure they have no problems because of the new reformist tax regime,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister claimed that thousands of new traders were coming up to join the GST regime but seeking simplicity in its implementation. “I have given my word to the traders that I will not allow them to suffer.
“Nobody is against GST, they all want that there should be no hurdles in its implementation. We are seized of it and am continuously making suggestions to address all concerns.”
HT
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