Oppn criticises CM's decision not to attend Niti Aayog meeting

Opposition Congress and BJP today came down heavily on Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for his decision not to attend the meeting of the Niti Aayog's governing body to be held in New Delhi tomorrow.

Sources in the Chief Minister's Office here has said Patnaik will not attend the meeting to be presided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The sources said the Chief Minister's Office has already sent the state's demands through writing to the Niti Aayog. The state's major issues included Mahanadi water dispute and special category status.

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik said: "This is not good for democracy that the chief minister will skip such an important meeting. For the sake of state's interest, the CM should attend the Niti Aayog meeting and raise the state's issue at the right forum."