PM Modi meets Ministers of State with Independent Charge

New Delhi, Mar 31: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held an interaction with Ministers of State with Independent Charge, asking them about their work and feedback about government's policies.

During the over 90-minute meeting in which BJP President Amit Shah was present, Modi is learnt to have asked each of the 13 Ministers about their experience in government and whether they faced any difficulties in discharge of their duties, sources said.

He also sought to know from the feedback of people over the government policies, they said. The Prime Minister is learnt to have told them that maintaining the connect with grassroot workers was a must to dispel ambiguity about government policies, the sources said.

Some of key ministries like Coal, Petroleum, Environment and Commerce and Industry are headed by Ministers of State with Independent Charge instead of full-fledged Cabinet Ministers.

The meeting assumes significance as government is under attack from the Opposition on the Land bill and the government and the BJP are keen to allay fears relating to Land Acquisition among the farmers.

Government also wants to send out a message that NDA regime is not against farmers and pro-corporate and that the interest of the farming community will not be compromised as being claimed by the Opposition.

Ahead of the Budget session, Modi had called his entire Council of Ministers for an interaction where he had sought 'out-of-box' suggestions on the Union Budget.

PTI