NEW DELHI: In an indication of its disinclination to support the passage of GST bill in its current shape, Congress on Saturday said there was no need to give over-importance to one GST legislation when there were many important bills pending in Parliament, adding to the suspense over the fate of the tax reform hanging fire.

Anand Sharma, deputy leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, said, “The bill has been pending for a long time and the charge against it was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his capacity as the chief minister of Gujarat… It remains a work in progress.”

The remark came a day before the Congress leadership reviews its strategy over parliamentary blockade and its stance on the GST on Sunday.

“There have been informal contacts but the government has to give a structured response to Congress’s three demands on GST. There are many issues within GST which have to be brought to an acceptable closure. It is an important bill which requires a consensus. It should not be rushed through,” Sharma said.

At a media event, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley ruled out including the GST rate in the Constitution Amendment Bill saying tariffs can't be cast in stone.

He said the Congress, which has opposed the GST Bill over three main demands, should accept UPA Finance Minister P Chidambaram 's proposal for a GST Council or its appointed forum for resolving tax disputes, instead of its demand for a Supreme Court judge being the adjudicating authority.

Jaitley said Congress was changing stance every day as it believes none other than persons from one family have the right to rule the country.

“Are tariffs ever cast in stone. It happens nowhere in this world. You (Congress) are trying to impose an impossible condition,” he said.

According to Congress leaders, the passage of the tax reform bill was an open issue. A senior MP said Congress could relent on its resistance to GST if the government accepted two of its three suggestions. But there is also a view to link the party support for legislations to “government’s policy of political vendetta”.

Sharma criticized the government for its lack of consultations with the Opposition. “The engagement between government and the opposition cannot be restricted to the passage of one bill,” he said.