Voices of Gujarat: ‘GST a Pain, But Will Still Vote For Modi’

From GST to gundagardi, watch these five voters talk about what will define their decision this election.

From GST to gundagardi, watch these five people talk about what will define their vote this election.

(Photo: The Quint)

A 29-year-old charkha maker, a homemaker, a shopkeeper and more – Watch these people from Gujarat tell us what will define their vote this election.

‘Authorities Trouble me After Implementation of GST’: Charkha Seller

29-year-old Naresh Rathore sells charkhas near Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, and also sends them to cities like Delhi for sale. However, the implementation of GST has caused his business to suffer.

Because of GST, sending the charkhas outside has become difficult. The transport authorities ask for GST bill. But how will small-scale workers like me have a proper bill? The authorities trouble us.

Naresh Rathore

He says his vote will be decided not so much by an issue such as atrocities on Dalits in the state, but more on the basis of GST. Atrocities had been happening even during the reign of previous governments, he says.

‘GST a Pain, But Will Still Vote For BJP’: Shopkeeper

55-year-old Bhawanibhai, who runs a shop in Ahmedabad, admits that GST has been a pain especially for smaller traders, but goes on to say that he will still vote for BJP.

There’s no option but to vote for BJP. Modiji is from Gujarat, from our area. The opposition is not strong enough.

Bhawanibhai

The government has responded to the clamour against GST by making several changes to ease its burden on traders and exporters. Meanwhile, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia has admitted that a reshuffling of tax rates is required to reduce the burden on businesses.

'Let’s Put The Bigger Issues Aside, Even Our Small Problems Don’t Get Solved’: Homemaker

Twenty-year-old homemaker Payal Dhaval says forget the big issues, even the small local problems aren’t being dealt with.

Let’s put the bigger issues aside. Even our small problems don’t get solved. We don’t even have a basic water pipeline. The politicians talk about Narmada (dam). But there’s no proper drinking water here.

Payal Dhaval

The issues Dhaval raises can be addressed by the Rajkot Municipal Corporation, where BJP has the maximum seats. The corporation has got over 800 complaints by residents on water shortage of lately.

‘GST Has Made Our Life Difficult’: Shopkeeper

30-year-old Prakash Thakor feels the aam aadmi of Gujarat is fed up with the BJP government.

If I list the problems we have with the government, it will turn into a long book.

Prakash Thakor

A shopkeeper in Gandhinagar, Thakor is also a member of the Gujarat Kshatriya Thakor Sena, whose leader Alpesh Thakor recently joined the Congress.

For Prakash, GST has been one of the most pressing concerns which will define his vote.

There’s GST on food and on clothes. When we tell customers about the price of cloth, they run away. My business is suffering.

Prakash Thakor

‘Illegal Liquor in the State is a Huge Issue’: 38-Year-Old

For 38-year-old Dawal Singh Thakor, gundagardi (muscle power) in Gujarat has made its people very upset with the government.

There’s a huge problem of <i>gundagardi</i> in Gujarat. The police is involved in it as are the politicians.

For Thakor, a member of Gujarat Kshatriya Thakor Sena, illegal liquor is also a huge issue.

Every poor person is drinking here. Out of the Rs 200 that he may be earning, he’s spending 50% of it on alcohol. He is drinking because he is so fed up.

Click here to listen to more such voices from Gujarat.

Video Editor: Mohd Ibrahim