After West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao to skip Niti Aayog meeting. Details here

After West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao will not be attending the fifth governing council meeting of the NITI Aayog scheduled on June 15 in the National Capital. The meeting will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which is the first meeting of Niti Aayog after the formation of the new government. 

Earlier on June 7, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee wrote to the Prime Minister saying that she will not attend the Niti Aayog meeting scheduled on June 15. Banerjee said that there is nothing called Niti Aayog because the states do not get their space in the forum. 

"Niti Aayog does not have any power, just to show off. There's no point going there," Banerjee had said over reason for not attending the meeting.

WATCH: 'There's No Point Going There', Says Mamata Banerjee Announcing She'll Skip Niti Aayog's Meeting To Be Chaired By PM Modi On June 15

Chief ministers, lieutenant governors of union territories, several union ministers and senior government officials are set to be present in the meeting. The Governing Council is expected to discuss important subjects, including major issues concerning water management, agriculture, and aspirational district programme, according to official sources.

Here are the main agendas at the meeting:

• Deliberation of ways for encouraging water conservation through rainwater harvesting
• Discussion on the impact of drought in India at the economic, environmental and social levels and its possible relief measures
• Focus on the Aspirational Districts Programme, launched in January 2018. Based on the core principle of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwaas’, the programme ensures universal implementation of welfare schemes and inclusive growth
• Focus on reforms for 'Transforming Agriculture', with special emphasis on Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act and Essential Commodities Act, 1955
• Focus on the internal security situation in the country with a specific focus on development in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) areas.

Headed by the Prime Minister, the Governing Council meets regularly, and its first meeting took place on February 8, 2015. The second meeting of the council on July 15, 2015, reviewed the progress made by the three sub-groups of chief ministers and the two task forces.

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