The 9th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog, held on Saturday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi, was marred by controversy. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee walked out of the meeting, alleging that her microphone was abruptly silenced after just five minutes. This incident sparked a wave of criticism and accusations of political bias.
During his address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the ambition of making India a developed nation by 2047, calling it the aspiration of every Indian. He highlighted the crucial role of states, being directly connected with the people, in achieving this ambitious goal. Modi called upon states to capitalize on technological and geopolitical changes to propel India towards development, urging them to create policies conducive to attracting international investments.
However, the meeting was overshadowed by the boycott from states led by INDIA bloc parties, a coalition of opposition parties. While Mamata Banerjee initially attended, she walked out, accusing the government of unfairly silencing her. The Congress party slammed the treatment meted out to Banerjee, calling it “unacceptable” and accusing NITI Aayog of being partisan and lacking in professionalism. The absence of other INDIA bloc leaders, including Stalin (DMK), Pinarayi Vijayan (CPI-M), Bhagwant Mann (Aam Aadmi Party), Siddaramaiah (Congress), Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (Congress), Revanth Reddy (Congress), and Hemant Soren (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha), further underscored the political divide.
The meeting saw the participation of 26 Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories. Notably, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a key ally of the BJP-led NDA, also skipped the meeting, sending a signal of his dissatisfaction. The meeting provided a platform for state leaders to present their suggestions for the ‘Viksit Bharat @ 2047’ vision, with many highlighting best practices in agriculture, education, skill development, entrepreneurship, drinking water, governance, and digitalization.
The controversy surrounding Mamata Banerjee’s exit, coupled with the widespread boycott from INDIA bloc parties, cast a shadow over the NITI Aayog meeting. It remains to be seen how the government will address the concerns raised by the opposition and whether it can bridge the political divide to achieve its ambitious goals for India’s future.
