During his recent trip to poll-bound Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the process of taking important economic decisions would continue. The statement came at a time when the Opposition parties have been targeting the government over the GST and demonetisation moves. Stating that 27 Lakh “new citizens” had come to the “mainstream” after joining GST, Modi assured businessmen who were “afraid” that the government would not dig out old records. “I would like to assure them that no officer will be entitled to open their old accounts and probe them. The economu of the country is on the right track and direction.”
Speaking at the roll-on, roll-off ferry service in Ghogha, Modi said that earlier trucks had to wait long hours at checkposts but with GST, the cost of transport had reduced and corruption at checkposts came down. “Now tell me, won't those who looted money by thekedaari (contractors) be angry with Modi? Will they be angry with Modi or not? We have established a business culture based on honesty. It is my experience that no businessman wants to cheat, but some laws and rules, officers and politicians push him towards it, make him helpless. We want to give an environment of honesty,” he said.
The PM also spoke of starting an industrial revolution through a “blue economy”, one where water would be the growth engine. He said his government would bring about a change in the work culture and vowed to bring “vikas”. “Today our economy is burdened with 18 per cent cost of logistics. Our country spends more on shipping, which is why essentials, when they reach the poor, become expensive because of transportation costs. By maximising the use of water transport we can reduce this cost,” Modi said.
