The BJP today lashed out at chief ministers who boycotted the governing council meeting of the NITI Aayog, calling their decision "anti-people" and "irresponsible".
The meeting, which will deliberate on several issues including, health, skill development, women empowerment and infrastructure development, with an aim to make India a developed nation by 2047, began here on Saturday.
Addressing a press conference, senior BJP leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the NITI Aayog is a key body for determining the entire objective, framework and road map for the development of the country.
He said as many as 100 issues are proposed to be discussed in the eighth governing council meeting of the NITI Aayog but chief ministers of eight states are not coming to attend it.
Chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann and Mamata Banerjee are among those not attending the meet.
"Why are they not coming to attend the meeting where 100 issues are to be discussed. If such a large number of chief ministers do not participate, they are not bringing the voice of their states," Mr Prasad said.
It is "very unfortunate, irresponsible and anti-people", he said. "How far will you go in opposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi," the BJP leader asked.
"You will get more opportunities to oppose PM Modi. But why are you causing harm to the people of your state?" he questioned.
This decision to boycott the meeting by eight chief ministers is "totally irresponsible" and is also "against the public interest and in the interest of people they govern in their states", Mr Prasad said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
"Cannot Have Enough Of You": Guyana President Praises PM Modi's Leadership PM Modi Leaves For Home After Concluding Three-Nation Visit "Era Of Cooperation, Not Conflict": PM Says Democracy, Not Expansionism Is The Way AAP's 7 'Revdis' Ahead Of Delhi Polls: Electricity, Education, Water Amazon Employee Greets Friend At Wedding, Dies Of Cardiac Arrest "World War 3 Has Begun": Ukraine Ex-Military Commander Amid Russia Conflict Has There Been An Undercount Of Punjab Farm Fires? What Satellite Pics Show Speed, Range, Threat: All About Russia's Oreshnik Missile Fired On Ukraine Bodies Of Infant, 5 Hostages Of Same Family Killed In Manipur Brought Home Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.