New Delhi: Evoking the spirit of ‘Team India’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called on all states to work in tandem with the Centre to ensure that the legislative arrangements at their level for the landmark GST was put in place without delay.
According to an official statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office after the meeting, Mr Modi described the day-long deliberations as “constructive”.
Quoting him, it said that “the circulated vision document is a draft, and all suggestions given by the chief ministers will be taken into account before finalising it”.
The PM noted that the theme of regional imbalance was raised by a number of chief ministers. He agreed that this had to be addressed on priority, both nationally, and within states. In this context, Mr Modi sent out a message of inclusivity in line with the spirit of cooperative federalism espoused by the Niti Aayog.
Mr Modi also seconded J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s suggestion that states should take an interest in students from her state who are now studying in other states, and urged all state governments to reach out to these students from time to time.
His comments assume significance given some recent incidents of Kashmiri students living and studying in various states who faced violent attacks and harrassment. Some Kashmiri students were thrashed in Chittorgarh last week, and a hoarding was put up in Meerut asking Kashmiris to leave UP.
Highlighting some constructive feedback received at the meeting from the chief ministers, the Prime Minister said there have been suggestions to have the financial year from January to December, instead of April to March. He urged states to take the initiative in this regard.
Ironically, as the Prime Minister harped on cooperative federalism, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal skipped the Niti Aayog’s governing council meeting. Ms Banerjee had missed the last meeting of the council as well on July 15, 2015.
