Touring his home state ahead of the Assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hit back at the opponents of his political and economic strategies.
Faced with the public anger over higher fuel prices and issues arising from the GST rollout, the Prime Minister took the credit after the latest GST Council meeting, where the Centre cut GST rates on as many as 27 items and eased the rules for exporters and small traders.
"We do not want the country’s business class to get caught in red-tape, files, bureaucracy. There are some very important decisions related to the GST have been taken. This has brought cheers for the business class... the Diwali festivities have come 15 days earlier for people," Modi said at a public meeting at Dwarka on his first day of visit.
Modi laid the foundation stone for a cable-stayed four-lane bridge connecting Okha and Beyt Dwarka. The 2.32-km-long bridge will cost around Rs 962.43 crore.
Laying foundation stone for another ambitious project of new Rajkot International Airport at Chotila, Modi hit out at the opponents of his development model.
"In the past, there was a time, when political leaders would install a water tank and go ga-ga over his development. Installing a hand-pump was the definition of development," Modi said in his address.
Covering Saurashtra, North Gujarat and South Gujarat regions of the poll-bound state, Modi defined his vision of development and silenced his critics by public response over the need for 'Vikas'.
At his hometown Vadnagar, after inaugurating a 700-bed hospital and medical college on his second day of the tour, Modi asked the gathering, "Do you think this is development (vikas)?.. Do you like the development?.. do you want development?.." The crowd joined responded him in assertive.
Modi's comments came as a response to the aggressive social media campaign by the Congress that mocked the development saying, "Vikas Gando thayo" (The development has gone mad).
In Gandhinagar, while inaugurating the new campus of Indian Institute of Technology - Gandhinagar (IIT-Gandhinagar), Modi addressed students: "You are IIT-ians, I was a Tea-ian when I was young (I sold tea). On this day, a few years ago, I took oath as Chief Minister for the first time. Till then, I had never even been an MLA. I had decided that whatever I will do, I will do to the best of my abilities."
Before returning to New Delhi on Sunday, the Prime Minister flagged off Antyodaya Express - between Gujarat and Bihar and laid the foundation stone for the Bhadbhut barrage project on river Narmada in Bharuch district.
"Whether it is Diwali or Chhat Puja, the train is a gift from the West of India to the people from UP and Bihar. Now they can connect with us," Modi said.