Congress CMs, Mamata, Jaya skip NITI Aayog meeting

Chief Ministers of nine Congress- ruled states as well as those of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha today kept away from NITI Aayog's Governing Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss various issues, including the land Bill.

The second meeting of the NITI Aayog's Governing Council, was, however, attended by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, besides those from NDA-ruled states.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was among those who attended the meeting. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Tamil Nadu's J Jayalalithaa, Odisha's Naveen Patnaik and Uttar Pradesh's Akhilesh Yadav were among those who skipped the meet.

The Governing Council, which comprises all Chief Ministers and Lt Governors of Union Territories, is headed by the Prime Minister.

The meeting was called by Modi to deliberate on various issues, including the contentious land acquisition Bill.

The council was also expected to deliberate on issues like poverty, health and centrally sponsored schemes (CSS).

Congress leaders had earlier said the party chief ministers would not attend the meeting to check the government from pushing ahead with the controversial land Bill.