Headlines
Modi to meet northeast CMs, may not attend president's Iftar
New Delhi/Agartala, July 14
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.