Kejriwal To Skip NITI Aayog Meet Amid AAP's Tussle With Centre

Amid the feud between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Centre, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has decided to skip the Governing Council of NITI Aayog on Saturday.

The theme of the meeting to be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is 'Viksit Bharat @ 2047: Role of Team India'.

"People are asking, if the PM doesn't abide by the SC then where will people go for justice? What's the point of attending NITI Ayog meeting when cooperative federalism is a joke," said Arvind Kejriwal.

The Niti Aayog meeting is likely to deliberate on several issues, including, health, skill development, women empowerment and infrastructure development, with an aim to make India a developed nation by 2047.

The council, the apex body of Niti Aayog, includes all chief ministers, lieutenant governors of Union Territories, and several Union ministers.

Among other issues, the Punjab government had last year said the Centre has turned down the state government's proposal of contributing to the cash incentive to farmers for not burning stubble.

The state government had proposed to give Rs 2,500 per acre to paddy growers. It suggested that the Centre pay Rs 1,500 per acre while Rs 1,000 per acre will be borne by Punjab and Delhi governments.

Another issue which had witnessed friction between the state and the Centre pertained to Mohalla Clinics.

Earlier this year, the Union Health Ministry had said the Punjab government was converting the Ayushman Bharat - Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWC) into Mohalla Clinics, a pet project of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, and had warned of stopping the funds for the scheme.

The AB-HWC is formulated with a 60:40 contribution ratio by the Centre and the state.