As PM Modi lauds states, here’s what chief ministers said at Niti Aayog meet

At the Niti Aayog meet on Sunday, PM Modi lauded the state governments in overcoming challenges with resilience. Meanwhile, chief ministers of some non-BJP ruled states took the opportunity to present their demands and grievances before the government.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the seventh meeting of the Governing Council (GC) of NITI Aayog on Sunday. PM Modi lauded the collective efforts of all the states in the spirit of cooperative federalism as the force that helped India emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic.

While PM Modi gave credit to the state government in overcoming challenges with resilience, the chief ministers of some non-BJP-ruled states asked the Centre not to "force" its policies but to strengthen cooperative federalism. The CMs also sought a five-year extension for the compensation paid to states for revenue shortfall due to GST implementation.

Here’s what the states said during Niti Aayog meet:

WEST BENGAL

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee emphasised that the Centre should look into the demands of the state governments "more seriously" and no policies should be forced on them. CM Mamata Banerjee stressed that there should be a "greater cooperation" between the Centre and the states, according to official sources.

The Trinamool Congress supremo also said that state governments should not be pressurised to implement the National Education Policy (NEP).MAHARASHTRA

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde urged the central government to increase the procurement limit for the minimum support price (MSP) be increased to 50 per cent of the production.