Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who on Thursday repeated his call for political consensus on economic issues, said the implementation of theGoods and Services Tax could send a strong signal on the country's commitment to reforms. 

"The finance minister will be working with chief ministers on GST through the empowered committee," Singh told while interacting informally with journalists here. 

Defending his assertions during the I-Day that there was a need for a larger consensus on economic issues, Singh admitted that problems existed not only with the Opposition but also within the ruling side. 

"We all need to work together and my purpose in yesterday's speech was to call upon parties to give primacy to national issues." But Manmohan Singh refrained from commenting on the troubles facing his government's plans on the FDI front. (Economic Times)