Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], October 16 (HBTV): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms as a historic Diwali gift to the nation and to Uttar Pradesh, saying that the move provides relief on essential goods while imposing higher taxes on drugs and wasteful expenditure.
Speaking at the launch of the NaMo Yuva Run for a Drug-Free India from his residence, the Chief Minister said that to support the aspirations of the youth, exemptions were extended to bikes, cars, houses, steel, cement, and other necessities.
Flagging off the marathon from Kalidas Marg to the 1,090 Intersection, Adityanath highlighted that the GST reforms announced by the GST Council on September 3 would take effect nationwide from September 22. He also encouraged participants with chants of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’.
The Chief Minister said that the GST reforms would ease inflation for the poor, make education more affordable, and enhance citizens’ purchasing power, thereby boosting markets, creating jobs, and opening new avenues for progress.
He added that the reform ensures welfare for traders, relief for the poor, and benefits for consumers, urging that every resident of Uttar Pradesh be made aware of its significance. Adityanath also noted that the Bharatiya Janata Party is observing Seva Pakhwada nationwide from September 17, Prime Minister Modi’s birthday, to October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
Highlighting self-reliance as the foundation of progress, the Chief Minister said that a self-reliant society emerges from a healthy one, and that events like the NaMo Marathon provide direction and energy to the youth.
He called upon the youth to participate in such programmes with discipline and dignity, stating that discipline is the greatest strength of youth.
BJP State President Bhupendra Chaudhary, Sports Minister Girish Chandra Yadav, Mayor Sushma Kharwal, MLAs Yogesh Shukla, Neeraj Bora, OP Srivastava, and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.
(ANI)