Trinamool Congress (TMC) Supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday announced she will not attend the Niti Aayog meeting which will be chaired by PM Narendra Modi. The Fifth meeting of Niti Aayog Governing Council is slated for June 15th.
Mamata Banerjee in a written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Given that the NITI Aaayog has no financial powers and the power to support state plans it is fruitless for me to attend the meeting (June 15)”.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Benerjee writes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating 'given that the NITI Aaayog has no financial powers and the power to support state plans it is fruitless for me to attend the meeting (June 15).' pic.twitter.com/TuQKfx5FaX
— ANI (@ANI) June 7, 2019
TMC Boss Mamata Banerjee had a bitter spat with PM Modi during the campaigning of the national polls. She had earlier skipped Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s oath-taking ceremony.
West Bengal chief minister earlier skipped Niti Ayog meetings expressing her displeasure over the dissolution of Planning Commission and replacing it with the new body. She had earlier backed the idea of establishment of an Inter-State Council.
Mamata Banerjee said that ‘In a bid to strengthen the federalism cooperation relation between states and Centre, an Inter-State Council should be created’. She added that an Inter-State Council should be created under Article 263 of the constitution.
In a letter, she stated, “Unfortunately, a new body called NITI Ayog was formed on 1st January 2015 in place of Planning Commission, without assigning any financial powers to assist the States…”.
READ: PM Modi to chair Niti Aayog’s Governing Council fifth meet on June 15; All CMs, Governors to attend
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the fifth meeting Niti Aayog’s Governing Council on June 15. However, this will be his first meeting after storming back to power in the recently held national polls.
The Governing Council of the Niti Aayog includes to all the Chief Ministers, Governors of State, Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories, several Union Ministers and other officials. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the meeting and will discuss various issues concerning water management, agriculture, and security, official sources told.
PM Modi had on Thursday reorganize the Niti Aayog, dropping Bibek Debroy while retaining other full-time members. He also included Home Minister Amit Shah as an ex-officio member.
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