Taking a different stand from the BJP-ruled states, senior party leader and Deputy Chief Minister in the National Democratic Alliance government in Bihar, Mr Sushil Kumar Modi, on Tuesday hailed the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST) as a “historic reform“.

“If GST is implemented, Bihar will be a part of it. There is no question of having our own choice or dislike. This is a historic reform and we believe that the entire country should be part of this reform,” he told reporters here.

Mr Modi, however, made it clear that his views are for the Bihar State and do not reflect the BJP's point of view.

At the same time, he sought to dispel doubts that his party was against the GST. “It should be kept in mind that GST is part of the BJP's election manifesto,” Mr Modi, who also holds the finance portfolio, said. But the concerns of different States should be addressed irrespective of the party in power, he added.

Regarding his refusal to take over the post of the Chairman of Empowered Committee of State Finance Minister's, Mr Modi said he made the decision due to preoccupation with affairs back in Bihar.

The post of the Chairman of the Empowered Committee had fallen vacant after Dr Asim Dasgupta of West Bengal lost the Assembly poll in his State in May.

Madhya Pradesh, along with Gujarat among other BJP-ruled States, is opposed to the proposed GST in its present form.

The new GST regime would subsume most of the indirect taxes such as excise duty and service tax at the Central level and value added tax on the State front, besides local levies.

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