22 September,2025 06:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut. File pic
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, slamming the BJP, expressed surprise over the timing of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi's national address on Sunday. The MP stated that BJP workers wanted to watch the India-Pakistan Asia Cup clash, due to which PM Modi planned his address at 5 pm, news agency ANI reported.
While speaking to the media in Mumbai, Raut mentioned that PM Modi's "usual time" to address the nation is 8 pm, but he preponed his speech for a different purpose.
"The Prime Minister addressed the nation at 5 pm, which surprised everyone. His usual time is 8 pm -- that's the standard time to mislead people. So why 5 pm this time? People are saying that there was an India-Pakistan cricket match yesterday, and BJP workers wanted to watch it without any disturbance from the Prime Minister's address. The party apparently told the PM to schedule it for 5 pm instead. BJP workers wanted to watch the India-Pakistan match, so the time was changed-- what a display of patriotism", the Rajya Sabha MP said.
In his address on Sunday, PM Modi urged citizens to adopt 'Swadeshi' and prioritise Made in India products, as the newly approved Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms come into effect from Monday, September 22.
"We need to make every home a symbol of Swadeshi... every shop should be adorned with Swadeshi products," PM Modi asserted in his address to the nation.
Calling the GST reforms a "Bachat Utsav", the PM further appealed to citizens to buy products made in India, stating that they carry the hard work and "sweat" of the country's youth.
"We should buy products that are made in India... in which the hard work of our country's youth is involved... the sweat of our country's sons and daughters," he said during his address.
While praising the new GST reforms, he asserted that the new tax structure reflects the Union Government's "Nagrik Devo Bhava" mantra and will result in substantial savings for the public.
Putting light on the latest GST reforms, PM Modi said, "We are moving forward by following the mantra of 'Nagrik Devo Bhava', and we can see its reflection in the next generation's GST reforms. If we combine the income tax exemption and the GST exemption, the decisions made in one year will save the people of the country more than Rs 2.5 lakh crore, and that's why I say, 'This is a savings festival'."
(With inputs from ANI)
