Officials trying for consensus with states on tax, compensation law; PM might speak in Rajya Sabha The much-awaited Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council meeting, slated for Friday, has been postponed by a week. Central and state officials are yet to agree on the Bills to effect the proposed system but there is still hope for meeting the April 1, 2017, target to begin the new indirect taxation system. The government says it is confident of being able to introduce the Bills in the ongoing session of Parliament, despite the indefinite adjournments of the latter on the protests over demonetisation. Also, the government is yet to decide whether to introduce the GST legislations as money Bills (which would mean Rajya Sabha approval is not needed; the governing alliance is in a minority here) or finance Bills. Prime Minister Narendra Modi might reply to a debate on demonetisation, if it takes place on Thursday, to try and request opposition parties to not stall Parli