Touring his home-State ahead of the Assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit back at the opponents of his political and economic strategies.

Faced with public anger over higher fuel prices and issues arising from the GST rollout, the Prime Minister took credit after the latest GST Council meeting, where the Centre cut rates on as many as 27 items and eased the rules for exporters and small traders. “We do not want the country’s business class to get caught in red-tape, files, bureaucracy. Some very important decisions related to the GST have been taken. This has brought cheers for the business class... the Diwali festivities have come 15 days earlier for people,” Modi said at a public meeting at Dwarka on the first-day of the visit.

Modi laid the foundation stone for a cable-stayed four-lane bridge connecting Okha and Beyt Dwarka. The 2.32-km long bridge will cost around ₹962.43 crore.

Laying the foundation stone for the Rajkot International Airport at Chotila, Modi hit out at those opposing his development model. “In the past, there was a time, when political leaders would install a water tank and go ga-ga over his development. Installing a hand-pump was the definition of development,” Modi said in his address.

Covering Saurashtra, North Gujarat and South Gujarat regions, Modi defined his vision of development. At his hometown Vadnagar, after inaugurating 700-bed hospital and medical college on his second day of the tour, Modi asked the gathering, “Do you think this is development ?.. Do you like development?.. do you want development?..” The crowd responded affirmatively.

Modi's comments came as a response to the aggressive social media campaign by the Congress that mocked the development saying, “ Vikas Gando thayo ” (The development has gone mad).

Inaugurating the new campus of Indian Institute of Technology - Gandhinagar (IIT-Gandhinagar), Modi addressed students. “You are IIT-ians, I was a Tea-ian when I was young (I sold tea). On this day, a few years ago, I took oath as Chief Minister for the first time. Till then, I had never even been an MLA. I had decided that whatever I will do, I will do to the best of my abilities,” Modi said.

Before returning to New Delhi on Sunday, the Prime Minister flagged off Antyodaya Express — between Gujarat and Bihar — and laid the foundation stone for the Bhadbhut barrage project on river Narmada in Bharuch district.

“Whether it is Diwali or Chhat Puja, the train is a gift from the West of India to the people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Now they can connect with us,” Modi said.

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