Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Gujarat this morning on a two-day visit, accused the erstwhile UPA government of having been indifferent towards the western state including over sanctioning of development projects.
Recalling the difficulties Gujarat faced when the Congress-led UPA ruled the country, Modi said that “despite my best efforts, I could not make them (UPA government) to wake up from their slumber”.
The Prime Minister, who laid foundation stones for a four-lane signature bridge linking Okhla with Bet Dwarka and the widening of a national highway, stressed that his government on the other hand had given priority to development.
"For development one needs a vision and a dream," he said.
The Prime Minister also spoke on his government's decision to relax the GST rates and allowing small entrepreneurs, businessmen, traders and the exporters to file their returns quarterly instead of every month. Saying that government had tried to simplify further a "simpler tax", he described the decision on relaxing GST as "advancing of the Diwali festivities for business community by a fortnight".
Modi said the decision to relax the GST provisions for the small traders, businessmen and exporters was in keeping with the Centre's promise to review the working of the new tax regime from time-to-time.
Modi, who began his home state visit with a trip to the Dwarkadish temple, said that on its completion, the Okha-Bet Dwarka bridge would contribute to development of the area. He said merely developing an area was not sufficient unless it had connectivity with other areas. He said it would go a long way in reducing the difficulties that people faced over the years.
On Sunday, he is scheduled to visit his birthplace Vadnagar for the first time after becoming Prime Minister.
