With the next-generation GST reforms set to come into effect on September 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon people to support his 'swadeshi' campaign and promote Made in India products. The reforms are expected to decrease prices of various items and products, including electronics, food, and automobiles, leading to a 'GST bachat utsav (savings festival).' As India gears up for this major step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat, let's take a look at how the GST 2.0 will benefit the country's economy.
On the eve of Navratri, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a "GST bachat utsav" as India prepares for the implementation of next generation GST reforms. The PM stressed the importance of promoting 'swadeshi' goods and urged all states to participate in the development race towards an 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'. With this move, the government hopes to boost the economy, increase ease of doing business and attract more investors. The upcoming festival season is expected to bring happiness and savings for all citizens, especially the poor, middle class, farmers, women, traders, and shopkeepers.
The BJP, under the guidance of their National President Jagat Prakash Nadda, has announced a seven-day long campaign called 'GST Savings Festival' to spread awareness about the benefits of the new GST rates and to create a festive atmosphere. All BJP MPs and party workers will conduct a padyatra at one marketplace daily and interact with shopkeepers, presenting them with flowers and placards with the slogan 'Say with pride, this is swadeshi'. The campaign will also include a 'Swadeshi Campaign' with banners bearing the same slogan. This initiative, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to not only make the tax system more people-friendly, but also boost the national economy and lead India towards development.
Hackers took control of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Twitter account, changing the handle to 'X' which was formerly known as Twitter. The hackers also posted images of Pakistan and Turkish flags, leading to an investigation by state officials. This incident has raised concerns over the safety and security of government officials on social media platforms.
In preparation for upcoming events such as PM Modi's birthday and Gandhi Jayanti, BJP party president JP Nadda has outlined a week-long action plan for parliamentarians to promote Swadeshi products, GST rate cuts, and cleanliness awareness. This includes organizing trade conferences, promoting indigenous products, and highlighting the benefits of government reforms. The campaign aims to engage citizens and create a lasting impact through active participation and a visible movement on the ground.
The Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has clarified that recent reports claiming that it issued notices to Hindi TV news channels over the excessive use of Urdu words in their reporting are fake and misleading. According to the Ministry, they have only forwarded a viewer's complaint to the concerned channels under the provisions of the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act. This clarification was made by PIB Fact Check, a government agency that busts fake news and misinformation related to the Indian government, while also urging people to share what type of content they would like to see from them this year. The false claims about the ministry targeting news channels over the use of Urdu words have been circulating on social media, with users calling out the alleged irony as some of them pointed out the presence of English words in the notice itself.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Tarvinder Singh Marwa and Karnail Singh are calling for popular international food outlets, such as Domino's, KFC, and McDonald's, to refrain from selling non-vegetarian food during Navratri. They argue that this step is necessary to respect the religious sentiments of Hindus and maintain social harmony. The initiative has gained support from other local leaders, including councilor Ramkishore Sharma, who plans to appeal to non-vegetarian food vendors in his area to shut their shops during the festival. This move highlights the growing recognition of the need to align with traditional practices during cultural festivals.
Sunil Sharma, Leader of Opposition in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, praises the 'Namo Yuva Run' campaign for inspiring Kashmir's youth to dream of a better India. He also highlights the benefit of such sports events in keeping the youth away from drug addiction. Sharma also speaks about the various programmes under the Sewa Pakhwada, organized to celebrate the 75th birthday of the Prime Minister, which includes the upcoming marathon. He emphasizes the government's strictness in dealing with drug trafficking to protect future generations.
Hyderabad MP and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi criticizes the recent changes to the US H-1B visa policy, stating that it effectively closes off a major opportunity for intergenerational mobility for Indian professionals. He blames the current government for failing to protect India's strategic interests and urges for efforts to reduce dependency on the US. Owaisi argues that flashy events like "Howdy Modi" and "Namaste Trump" do not equate to effective foreign policy and that it is ordinary Indians who are ultimately hurt by this policy change.
US President Donald Trump made headlines during his second UK state visit with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, where he expressed disappointment in Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions during a joint news conference. Upon returning to the US, Trump doubled down on his criticism of talk show host Jimmy Kimmel and announced that Secret Service protection has been added for White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt due to the current political climate. Leavitt is not the only member of Trump's team to receive added security in recent days.