Traders give thumbs-up to Modi on GST rollout

BENGALURU: The roll-out of the goods and services tax (GST) on time has strengthened the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP among the trading community despite the huge amount of confusion, infrastructure glitches and money loss for them.

Traditionally BJP voters, the trading community repeatedly petitioned the PM and finance minister Arun Jaitley to delay the launch till September so that glitches could be ironed out and the entire segment be “properly trained“ to go for the launch.

The Centre, however, went ahead with the roll-out, but like in the case of demonetisation, this has resulted in further admiration for the PM rather than disgruntlement from the most affected.


“Modi's mission in life is not merely to survive but to thrive.He does so with some passion, compassion, humour and some style. The Congress party and the then PM (Manmohan Singh) had different ideologies. Modi has converted the ideas to goals,“ trade activist Sajjan Raj Mehta, a leader in trading community located in Chikpet, told ET.

The common perception is that the Congress, despite coming up with the idea of the GST and working out its basics, would not have been able to push it through.“Modiji has proved that he is ready to take decisions and chances,“ Mehta said.