'Decisiveness a hallmark of NDA Govt.': Jaitley

Finance Minister said the govt is going to create history by bringing about the most important indirect tax reform - the GST

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday said that decisiveness, even in the face of obstructionism, was a hallmark of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA Government.

"There was a general environment of gloom a year ago. That has been replaced by hope and excitement. Decisiveness, even in the face of obstructionism, has been a hallmark of this government," Jaitley said while addressing the media on the first anniversary of the Modi government.

"This one year shows the direction in which this government is working under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Not only in India, but in the entire world, the respect for India and the Prime Minister has increased," he added.

Jaitley further said that India has occupied a pre-eminent place in the global arena.

"The Prime Minister has visited 18 countries and India has been able to achieve a unique place. In Iraq, Maldives and Nepal when there was trouble, India left its mark through its diplomacy and foreign policy. India has occupied a pre-eminent place in the global arena," he added.

The Finance Minister asserted that the NDA Government was in the process of creating history by bringing about the most important indirect tax reform - the GST.

"We are in the process of creating history by bringing about the most important indirect tax reform - the GST. High taxation rates are never investor or economy-friendly, we want to convert the distant dream into reality. The path of this government is decided, our priority is that GST should be passed in next Parliament session, stalled projects have to be started," said Jaitley.

"In the last 12 days, the new insurance schemes have reached to almost seven and a half crore people," he added.