Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday chaired a meeting of Chief Ministers of States ruled by the United Progressive Alliance to discuss key issues that the Congress would like to take up during the NITI Aayog meeting. Kamal Nath (Madhya Pradesh), Ashok Gehlot (Rajasthan), Bhupesh Bahgel (Chhattisgarh), V. Narayanasamy (Puducherry) and H.D. Congress president Rahul Gandhi is abroad, and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi too was not present. According to sources, the idea to hold the meeting germinated at a dinner called by Mr. Kamal Nath on Friday night. Dr. Singh asked the CMs to start a debate on maintaining a balance between development and saving the natural resources in the Naxal-affected tribal regions.

Source: The Hindu June 15, 2019 17:15 UTC