Union minister Prakash Javadekar today called on Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan here and held discussions on various issues concerning the state.
The Environment and Forest Minister, who was here to take part in the BJP's state level International Yoga Day celebrations, met Vijayan at the state secretariat. Emerging from the brief meeting, Javadekar told reporters that they discussed several matters, including Sabarimala and Western Ghats issues.
"We discussed a lot of matters including forest issues, Western Ghat issues and Sabarimala and about wildlife, animal conflicts and afforestation," he said.
Replying to a question, he said the long pending hydro-electric project, proposed at ecologically sensitive Athirappilly in Thrissur district, did not come up during the discussions.
Stating the BJP-led NDA government wanted to work together with all the state governments, he said it believed in "co-operative federalism".
"We believe that cooperative federalism, as proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is very important...We will work together with all the state governments and will take care of the feelings and aspirations of people, including those of Kerala, while formulating new policies," he said.
Consultations were on with states on new forest policy and also over review of Coastal Regulation Zone rules, he added.
State Minister for Power and Devaswom Kadakampally Surendran and BJP state President Kummanom Rajasekharan were also present during the discussions.
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Responding to questions on the CBSE's decision to recommend to the HRD ministry that the three language formula should be extended to Classes IX and X from the current VI to VIII, Javadekar dismissed as baseless apprehensions that the government intends to force students to study any particular language.
The HRD Minister said the 'Vittiya Saksharta Abhiyan' of his ministry was getting "a very emphatic response" and that nearly one-and-a-half lakhs volunteers had joined the move to promote digital transactions.
Responding to a question on allegations levelled by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Javadekar said there is no need to responded to "false and baseless statements made by frustrated leaders".
Taking a jibe at Rahul, he claimed the rug has actually got pulled off the feet of those leaders who wanted to bring an earthquake.
Javadekar also honoured a team of his ministry officials after his ministry's website was adjudged as one of the best among government departments.
