Modi to meet northeast CMs, may not attend president's Iftar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet chief ministers of the eight northeastern states on Wednesday evening in Delhi, triggering speculation that he may not attend the Iftar hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee.

"The prime minister will chair a meeting with chief ministers from the northeastern states, including Sikkim, at 1900 hrs (7 p.m.) tomorrow (Wednesday)," a release from the Prime Minister's Office said on Tuesday.

It said important development projects related to the northeast were likely to be discussed in the meeting.

A Tripura government official said chief ministers of the northeastern states wanted to meet Modi collectively to discuss various issues including continuation of special category status for the region.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar told reporters after a meeting with Modi in Delhi on June 16 that the prime minister "remained silent" on the chief ministers' demand for the special category status.

Apart from the eight northeastern states, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand are clubbed under the special status category.

Modi will chair the second meeting of the Governing Council of the NITI Aayog on Wednesday morning.

The president is hosting an Iftar party on Wednesday and the guest list includes leaders of all major political parties apart from diplomats.

The timing of Modi's meeting with the chief ministers of the northeastern states would coincide with that of the Iftar being hosted by the president.