Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) [India], September 22 : As the Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms come into effect on the occasion of Navratri, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday said that the government will reach out to traders and consumers to spread awareness regarding the benefits of the new tax slabs.
Addressing a gathering during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh, the Union Minister reiterated PM Modi's call for GST Bachat Utsav.
"We will reach out to all traders in cities and villages, and through them, we will raise awareness on the GST reforms among the consumers, so that they can benefit. We are going to celebrate the GST Bachat Utsav," he said.
Kiren Rijiju called it a pious and historic day and said, "The holy festival of Navratri has begun today, and on this pious day, PM Modi has come to the land where the sun rises first. Today is historic in more ways than one. Our historic and landmark GST reforms have been implemented today. PM Modi's first event after the implementation of GST reforms also happens to be in Arunachal Pradesh."
Earlier today, PM Narendra Modi interacted with Arunachal Pradesh's local taxpayers, traders, and industry representatives and discussed the benefits of the newly implemented GST tax rate reduction.
While attending a 'GST Bachat Utsav' event in Itanagar, the Prime Minister met with various artisans, industry leaders in the state, meeting with people who are selling local goods, to packaged milk and food stuffs, highlighting the 'swadeshi' products of the country and encouraging people to buy from local sources.
He also handed them placards of 'Garv se Kaho Yeh Swadeshi Hai'. The shopkeepers were very happy on receiving them and said that they would place these placards on their shops.
PM Modi also laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth over Rs 5,100 crore at Itanagar.