MAPUSA
For the first time, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar accepted that GST and demonetisation had caused some pain to people in the country.
"Nothing comes free. When certain steps are taken by the prime minister, there will be some pain. The current GST rating and note bandi (demonitisation) probably is a typical example of this. Some pain does come...," Parrikar said.
The chief minister was addressing a gathering of company secretaries and trainees at the inaugural of the annual regional conference of The Institute of Company Secretaries of India at a starred hotel in Arpora.
Speaking further, he said when action is taken against black money and the manipulative tactics in the system, there was likelihood of some pain around it.
The chief minister compared the current GST pain to that of the suffering in India during Independence.
"In 1947 too, when the nation got Independence, there was a lot of pain," he said.
He said GST has been success and many people have not realised the positive impact of the government's major economic decision.
Giving an example of how Goa government benefited from the GST, the CM said: "When government was recently purchasing 41 Ertiga cars for the police force, it was found that each car was cheaper by Rs 95,000 after GST kicked in."
"Even in works contract, we find a 5-8 percent reduction. So, GST is ultimately going to benefit everyone in reduced prices, cheaper prices and increased GDP. But pains will remain," he said.
He said companies that were used for manipulation were being closed down but in the process of cleaning up the system, certain good firms were impacted.
"There is a school of thought that you can't call all companies shell. There are certain structures which are built in and where it appears some companies are shell, but it may not. I think these cases should be brought up to the notice of authorities," he said.
Parrikar: Safe Goa ranking,
proud moment
MAPUSA: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said that it was a proud moment for Goa as the state has been declared as the safest place for women in the country.
"There is big news in newspapers which says Goa is the safest place for women," Parrikar said to a loud applause at the inaugural of the annual regional conference 2017 of The Institute of Company Secretaries of India.
"I have been telling everyone that Goa is very safe. I still remember when the first IFFI happened in Goa, there were almost 1 lakh people in the streets of Panaji, but there was not a single case of pickpocketing nor there was a single case of eve teasing. That is what Goa is," he told the gathering.
