PM Modi Chairs NITI Aayog Meet; Many Opposition CMs Skip

Overview of the NITI Aayog Governing Council Meeting

On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the NITI Aayog’s ninth Governing Council meeting. This crucial assembly aimed to address various national development issues and policy matters.

Attendance and Boycotts

The meeting witnessed notable absences among Opposition party chief ministers. Tamil Nadu’s MK Stalin, Kerala’s Pinarayi Vijayan, Punjab’s Bhagwant Mann, and all three Congress chief ministers—Siddaramaiah of Karnataka, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu of Himachal Pradesh, and Revanth Reddy of Telangana—decided to boycott the event.

Participation of BJP-Ruled States

In contrast, chief ministers from BJP-ruled states attended as directed. They presented the achievements of their governments and evaluated the performance of different departments and schemes.

Puducherry Chief Minister’s Absence

Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy also chose not to attend. Following the approval of Puducherry’s budget proposals by the center, Rangasamy deemed his presence unnecessary.

Mamata Banerjee’s Criticism

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is part of the Opposition INDIA bloc, participated despite most INDIA bloc leaders opting out. She criticized the NITI Aayog, advocating for the revival of the Planning Commission instead. Banerjee also addressed regional issues, asserting her state’s readiness to offer asylum to refugees as per international norms.

Banerjee’s View on the Current Government

In her remarks, Banerjee criticized the BJP, labeling it a “tukde-tukde platform” and claimed the BJP lacked a solid people’s mandate since 2014.

The NITI Aayog’s ninth Governing Council meeting highlighted the stark divide between the ruling party and Opposition leaders. This meeting was pivotal in assessing governmental progress and future policies.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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