Modi addresses IIB Mumbai summit through video

Gandhinagar, 5 October 2013

(In video: Modi alerted bullion merchants that by inviting him to their function, they may soon face raids by central government departments)

Addressing the first ever India International Bullion Summit organized by the Bombay Bullion Association through video conferencing today morning, Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Shri Narendra Modi affirmed that we all must work together to make our nation the ‘Sone Ki Chidiya’ once again. Modi called for the bullion market and association to start skill development initiatives to train young goldsmiths and children of goldsmiths. Modi called for exploring the opportunities in exporting handmade jewelry, which can help boost exports.

“Gold is deeply associated with our lives. The 50th anniversary is called a golden jubilee and we call our good period a golden period. It is in the mind of every person that with gold comes a sense of security and a sense of respect. On important occasions we exchange gold,” he said adding that gold is very popular among the rural areas where banking facilities are not very advanced making people buy gold.

Shri Modi was of opinion that while making policies about gold, the considerations cannot only be economic but also must ensure that the common people must not feel disconnected with it. If the Government thinks that by imposing duty the buying of gold will reduce they are wrong and even the RBI said it, Shri Modi said.

He also said that due to the Gold Control Act the skills of our goldsmiths took a beating, which is unfortunate and further said that the biggest loss for a nation is when it loses its skills.