Jaipur, Aug 5 (IANS) Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, on Wednesday took a veiled jibe at the former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot during his one-day visit to Jodhpur, saying he did not see any “magic” following Gehlot’s recent tour of the city.
Responding to media queries about Gehlot’s visit, Shekhawat said, “I have just arrived in Jodhpur, and I don’t see any ‘magic spell’ here.”
Commenting on the upcoming Panchayati Raj and urban local body elections in Rajasthan, Shekhawat expressed confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would secure a decisive mandate.
“The lotus will bloom,” he said, adding that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, development has reached every Assembly constituency in the state.
“The entire BJP organisation is united and preparing for these elections with full seriousness. The people of Rajasthan will once again bless the BJP with a resounding victory,” Shekhawat said.
He also hailed the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as a landmark achievement for India’s economy and a significant opportunity for Rajasthan’s export-oriented industries.
Shekhawat said the agreement offers major relief to India’s engineering, handicrafts and leather sectors by eliminating import duties on nearly 99 per cent of Indian products entering the UK market.
“The success of the agreement is evident from the fact that goods worth $140 million were exported from India to the UK on the very first day of its implementation,” he added.
Highlighting Rajasthan’s export potential, Shekhawat noted that Jodhpur’s handicrafts, Jaipur’s gems and jewellery, and the state’s leather products have a strong presence in the UK market.
The removal of tariffs, he said, will further enhance the competitiveness of these industries.
He added that, besides trade benefits, the agreement also includes a Mobility Pact, which is expected to simplify visa procedures and create better opportunities for Indians travelling to the UK for business and employment.
–IANS
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