Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi who had earlier formally turned down Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's offer to head the empowered group of state finance ministers on Goods and Services Tax (GST), on wendesday hinted that he might reconsider the proposal.When asked whether there is any possibility of reconsidering the offer, Modi said, “It is very difficult to answer. Finance Minister requested me to head the committee, but I refused the offer because of my responsibility towards the state. As of now this is my stand. But, Pramab Mukherjee has convened a meeting of all state finance ministers on July 18. In that meeting it will be decided who will chair the empowered committee.”
The Empowered Group of State Finance Ministers, engaged in building a consensus on the proposed GST, has been without a chief after Asim Dasgupta vacated the post following the Left Front's debacle in the West Bengal Assembly polls.Former Finance Minister of west Bengal Asim Dasgupta was appointed under the NDA regime by the then finance minister Yashwant Sinha.
Modi also hailed Dasgupta's performance as the head of the panel. “I should thank Ashim Dasgupta, though he belongs to CPM. He has handled the matter in a very good manner as the chairman of the empowered group,”said Modi who attended the annual genearal meeting of Indian Chamber of Commerce here.There were reports Modi was told by his party to turn down the offer as the BJP-ruled states are opposed to the introduction of GST in the existing structure. The centre, however, prefers someone from the opposition to head the panel as Congress-ruled states has already extended their support to the introduction of GST.
“PM should come under the ambit the Lokpal”
Though BJP is yet to decide its stand on whether Prime Minister should come under the the ambit the Lokpal, party leader and Duputy Chief Minister of Bihar Sushil Modi supported the civil society stance of bringiing PM under the bill.
“My party is yet to take its stand. But, I personally think PM should be under ther ambit of Lokpal,” Modi said here speaking on the ocassion.
He also said that Bihar is one of the frontrunner among the Indian states, in taking actions to curb corruptions. “Bihar is the only states where all the cabinet ministers declares their assets on the websites. Not only this along with this four lakh employees also do the same,” he added.
