PM goes home, launches projects worth ₹1,600 cr
MAKE IN GUJARAT Oppn attacks Modi for announcement ahead of state polls AHMEDABAD,NEWDELHI:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday vowed to continue reforms and asserted that the economy is on the right track at an event in Gujarat, even as the Opposition parties launched an all-out attack on his government’s policies.
The prime minister attended three functions in his home state to kick start a slew of projects as an angry Opposition protested over the timing of the announcements, accusing the government of taking time from the Election Commission before the poll schedule is rolled out.
Elections are slated to be held in the state not beyond December 18, the election commission had said on October 12 while announcing assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh.
“The flood of promises from Modi in Gujarat, due to EC’s relief by not announcing the polls. Whither ‘One election?” tweeted CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, referring to Modi’s earlier stand that he wanted simultaneous polls in Lok Sabha and assemblies.
Modi slammed the UPA regime for the backlog of development projects in the state while talking about economic stability, reaching out to the large business community. He also assured traders that past records would not be scrutinised if they register under the GST regime.
“After all reforms and hardcore decisions, the economy is on track and is going in the right direction,” Modi said addressing a rally in Dahej. He said the fundamentals of the economy are strong and “financial stability of the country will be maintained while initiating reforms.” The BJP-led government had earlier come under attack especially after the growth rate slipped to 5.7% in the first quarter of 2017-18.
The remarks come hours after revenue secretary Hasmukh Adhia pitched for an overhaul of GST rates to help small and medium enterprises. “This explains why the Hon PM was so happy to share credit for GST with the Congress. He’s not usually given to sharing credit anywhere,” tweeted Omar Abdullah.
BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha waded into the debate and said, “Some support GST, some don’t. Some support #DeMonetisation some don’t, this doesn’t mean critics are anti-national.”
Modi launched a roll-on, rolloff (Ro-Ro) ferry service in Gujarat. He inaugurated or laid foundation for projects worth over ₹1,600 crore, addressed three public rallies, a road show and took a 31- km ferry ride from Ghogha to Dahej. “I laid the foundation (of Ro-Ro service) in 2012. Since the project required works in the sea, we were dependent (on the Centre). But there were people at the Centre who imposed a blanket ban on development on Gujarat’s coastline,” Modi claimed.