NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed the GST as an example of cooperative federalism, giving credit to state governments for its successful implementation.
“If I have to give credit to anyone for successful implementation of ‘One Nation One Tax reform’, then I credit the states of our nation. GST is a great example of cooperative federalism, where all the states decided to take a unanimous decision in the interest of the nation, and then such a huge tax reform could be implemented,” he said in his radio programme Mann ki Baat.
“GST is not only the victory of integrity, but also a celebration of honesty. Earlier, in the case of taxation and allied affairs in the country, there were rampant complaints of Inspector Raj,” he said.
In another significant remark, Modi said cruelty and violence could not solve any problem. Referring to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, whose centenary falls in 2019, he said people must remember the message it imparted.
“Violence and cruelty can never solve any problem. It is peace and non-violence, renunciation and martyrdom that are triumphant in the end,” he said. There was a need to eradicate caste-based discrimination and need to embrace humanity, he added.
The PM also mentioned Yoga Day, celebrated on June 21, saying the whole world appeared as one entity.
“In the European Parliament in Brussels, at the UN headquarters in New York, on Japanese naval warships, there were sights of people performing yoga. Saudi Arabia witnessed its first, historic yoga programme and I am told many aasans were demonstrated by women. On the snow-capped mountain peaks of Ladakh, Indian and Chinese soldiers performed yoga in unison. Yoga breaks all barriers of borders and unites people,” he said.
Talking about an attempt to help farmers through technology, Modi mentioned a project by Samriddhi Trust in Bengaluru, saying farmers had a major role in the entire chain from cultivation to the marketing of crops.
“A separate seed bank has been created to make good agricultural strains available for reaping a bumper harvest. Women have also been added in this activity and they supervise the work of this seed bank,” he said. “I am happy that these young professionals, technocrats and others associated with the world of engineering got out of their comfort zone to make a connect with the farmer, the village, fields and barns,” he said.