Nadda, Sitharaman, along with Delhi BJP MPs, speak to shopkeepers, take feedback; Rekha Gupta urges people to go swadeshi; reform will energise economy ahead of Deepavali, Chhath: Mishra

Following the rollout of the new two-slab Goods and Services Tax regime at midnight on Sunday, several Union Ministers, including BJP chief J.P. Nadda and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, along with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and her Cabinet colleagues, visited various markets in Delhi on Monday and interacted with the traders.

Mr. Nadda visited south Delhi’s Amar Colony market and spoke to traders and shopkeepers over the GST reforms. Ms. Sitharaman, accompanied by Union Minister and East Delhi MP Harsh Malhotra, visited the Laxmi Nagar market, where she took feedback from the traders.

At the Tri Nagar market, the Chief Minister said the simplification of the GST regime had come as a “Deepavali gift” for citizens and traders.

‘Middle class to gain’

“This is not just a reform, but a bachat utsav (festival of savings) for every family ahead of this Deepavali. Middle-class households are set to gain the most,” Ms. Gupta told traders and customers at Tri Nagar’s Totaram Bazar.

She added that people must avail of the benefits to support “swadeshi (Indian-made)” products.

The Chief Minister placed posters bearing the slogan ‘Make Every Home Swadeshi’ on several shops. She was joined by Chandni Chowk MP Praveen Khandelwal and MLA Tilak Ram Gupta.

Addressing a gathering at Bhajanpura Market, Law Minister Kapil Mishra said, “For the first time, taxes have been cut across such a wide range of goods. Until now, we have only seen hikes. This step will energise the economy during Navratri, Deepavali, and Chhath Puja.”

Education Minister Ashish Sood chaired an event at Ekta Market in the Janakpuri Assembly constituency, where he held an awareness session on the GST reform.