On the first day of Navaratri, Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the nation and emphasized the importance of "swadeshi" (indigenous) products in achieving a developed and self-reliant India. Modi highlighted the spiritual significance of the festival, associating it with devotion, courage, patience, and determination.
In his address to the nation on the eve of Navaratri, Modi also spoke about the next-generation Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms, which came into effect on September 22nd. He described these reforms as a "GST Bachat Utsav" (GST Savings Festival), emphasizing that they would lead to lower prices and increased savings for citizens. The Prime Minister noted that reduced GST rates and simplified procedures would significantly benefit India's MSMEs, small-scale industries, and cottage enterprises, boosting sales and reducing their tax burden.
Modi urged citizens to buy local goods, stating that promoting "swadeshi" would strengthen the country's prosperity and power its progress, similar to how it fueled India's freedom movement. He appealed to all state governments to actively support the "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliant India) and "Swadeshi" campaigns by boosting manufacturing in their regions and creating a conducive environment for investment. He stressed that when the Centre and states work together, the dream of a self-reliant India will be fulfilled, every state will develop, and India will become a developed nation.
The Prime Minister highlighted that the GST reforms, combined with income tax benefits, would create a "double bonanza" for the poor, middle class, and neo-middle class, with an estimated savings of ₹2.5 lakh crore for the people of India. He noted that India's socio-economic progress has enabled 25 crore people to overcome poverty in the last 11 years, with the neo-middle class becoming a powerful force driving India's development.
Modi expressed high expectations from MSMEs, underscoring their historic role as the backbone of India's economy. He emphasized that products manufactured in India should be world-class and that the country should focus on producing domestically whatever meets the needs of its people.
The Prime Minister concluded by extending warm wishes for the GST Bachat Utsav and the auspicious occasion of Navaratri, reiterating his call for collective efforts to achieve a developed and self-reliant India. He also encouraged people to share their favorite bhajans with him, highlighting the devotional aspect of the festival.
