Six state chief ministers on Saturday skipped the 15th meeting of the National Integration Council (NIC), which was presided over the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh.
Apart from a miffed Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, the five other chief ministers who skipped the meeting were Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy, Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati.
TV quoted sources, as saying that Modi is reportedly upset with the Centre for its refusal to take back the notification issued by Gujarat Governor Kamla Beniwal to independently appoint a Lokayukta for the state. Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party have called the move unconstitutional, saying the governor should have consulted the chief minister. The BJP had stalled Parliament this week over the Gujarat Lokayukta issue. Chief minister Nitish Kumar reportedly did not attend the meeting as he wants an extended debate on the controversial Communal Violence Bill that the UPA II Government plans to table during the Winter Session of Parliament.
Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa did not attend as she has reported differences over some of the policies being pursued by the UPA II Government vis-a-viz her state and on the issue of rehabilitation of Sri Lankan Tamils. (Agencies)