Modi Urges NDA MPs to Host Swadeshi Mela, Promote GST Benefits

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asked ruling NDA MPs to organise “Swadeshi Melas” to promote indigenous products and make it a mass movement, stressing that self-reliance was the way to power India’s rise when its increasing strength was bound to face some challenges.

Addressing the NDA MPs a day ahead of the polling for the next vice-president of India, Mr Modi on Monday advised them to make sure that each and every vote from the NDA camp is cast for the ruling alliance candidate, C.P. Radhakrishnan. While sounding confident that the NDA nominee will win, Mr Modi, it is learnt, also cautioned that even a single missing vote could end up creating unnecessary speculation.

Addressing the MPs during a workshop on the “do’s and don’ts” for the V-P election, Mr Modi advised the MPs to ensure they vote in the correct way in the vice-presidential polls so that not a single vote is wasted.

Mr Modi addressed the gathering for nearly 22 minutes. He is likely to be the first MP to cast his vote as he is due to visit the flood-affected states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh later on Tuesday.

During his address, Mr Modi asked the NDA MPs to organise “Swadeshi Melas” to promote made-in-India products and hold meetings with traders over the GST rate cuts. “Swadeshi” was the main theme of his speech to the MPs.

Sources said Mr Modi asserted that the GST rate cuts by his government have generated a “lehar” (wave) and asked MPs to build on it by spreading the message to the masses by holding meetings with them. He stressed the need to promote made-in-India products by holding special fairs in their constituencies, the sources said. Mr Modi also advised MPs to reach out to local traders to highlight the latest GST reforms and promotion of “swadeshi”. The PM had given similar advice to BJP MPs on “swadeshi” and GST during their workshop on Sunday.

“It was a very good meeting where about 100 per cent NDA MPs from both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha came together. The Prime Minister shared his vision for India and expressed happiness over the important bills recently passed in Parliament. He also highlighted the major changes brought through GST reforms and stressed the need to explain their significance to the people, as they are crucial for building a self-reliant India,” said parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju after the meeting.

He said with the V-P elections due on Tuesday, the gathering was an important opportunity for all NDA MPs, and the Prime Minister’s “guidance and suggestions were listened to with great attention”.

To ease casting of votes, the NDA has deputed its ministers with the list of MPs who have been asked to come to the polling booth at Parliament House as per the slot allotted to them.