Ahead of NITI Aayog meeting, Manmohan Singh meets Congress CMs
NEW DELHI: Former prime minister Manmohan Singh held a meeting with Chief Ministers of Congress ruled state at Delhi party office on Saturday.
Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy and Puducherry’s V Narayansamy held a meeting with Manmohan Singh at the Congress headquarters in Delhi. Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel also joined the meeting later.However, Punjab’s CM Captain Amarinder Singh did not attend the meeting as he was unwell.
This is the first governing council meeting under the new Narendra Modi government, which is being attended by chief ministers, lieutenant governors of Union Territories, Union ministers, and senior government officials.
They discussed the proposed agenda and issues of their respective states to be taken up with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the NITI Ayog meeting later today, sources told news agency Pti.
Among the issues discussed were injecting life back in water bodies, fresh efforts needed from the Centre in the agricultural sector and amendment in the Forest Act to bring about change and prosperity in the lives of the tribals. Mr Baghel, Mr Kumaraswamy and Mr Narayansamy also separately called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today.
On Friday, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath had hosted a dinner at his residence where Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel and V Narayansamy were present. Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh could not make it for the dinner and is likely to skip the NITI Aayog meeting today as well.
The chief ministers of the Congress-ruled states are expected to raise key farmers issues and also share the benefits of the loan waiver scheme implemented by them at the NITI Aayog meeting.
The fifth meeting of the NITI Aayog’s Governing Council will focus on issues like the drought situation, farm distress, rain water harvesting and preparedness for kharif crops. The five-point agenda for the meeting also includes the inspirational districts programme, transforming agriculture and security related issues with special focus on left wing extremism (LWE) districts, an official statement said.
They were called for discussing issues of the states ruled by the Congress and its allies which will be taken up during the Niti Aayog meeting later in the day.
Congress looks for another ‘Manmohan Singh’ to replace Rahul Gandhi Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will today chair the fifth meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Ministers of Defence, Home Affairs, Finance and Corporate Affairs, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, as ex-officio members; Vice Chairman, Members, CEO and senior officers of NITI Aayog; and few other ministers will be attending the event as special invitees to the Governing Council.(With Agency Inputs ).
