Bengaluru, Sep 5 : Welcoming the rollout of the simplified GST system by the Central government, the Karnataka unit of BJP organised a celebratory event on Friday in front of the BJP state office, Jagannath Bhavan, here.

Firecrackers were burst, and slogans were raised in praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Legislative Council opposition chief whip N. Ravikumar, BJP state general secretaries Nandish Reddy and J. Preetham Gowda, Legislative Council member D.S. Arun, former member Captain Ganesh Karnik, state Mahila Morcha president K. Manjula, state office bearers, district presidents, and party workers were present.

Earlier, commending the GST reforms by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre, Karnataka BJP President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra stated: "The purpose of these reforms is to simplify the lives of ordinary citizens and improve the business environment for small enterprises."

Vijayendra stated: "The government led by the proud Prime Minister Narendra Modi has steered the country to the forefront of development while overcoming global challenges. At the same time, it has formulated numerous schemes to empower the most marginalised sections of society economically. Through these efforts, the vision of a self-reliant India and a developed India is being actively implemented."

"I congratulate the government, under the leadership of the proud Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on behalf of the people of the nation, for giving a Diwali and Dussehra gift to citizens by introducing the new GST rates, emphasizing that 'increasing taxes is not a priority; reducing them is our concern,' he stated.

Welcoming the development of GST reforms by the Centre, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who also holds Finance portfolio stated: "We welcome the decision of the GST Council to rationalise GST rates, an important step to reduce both the monetary and compliance burden on people and businesses."

In his statement released on Friday, CM Siddaramaiah emphasised, "This decision is not new wisdom but a long-delayed acceptance of what Shri Rahul Gandhi, Opposition leaders, and opposition-ruled states have demanded since 2016-2017, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi government hurriedly rolled out a faulty GST."

/IANS