PM calls meet over Planning Commission as 'fruitful'

Following the meeting, a  statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said :"The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, at the conclusion of the consultation meeting with Chief Ministers, said that the meeting was fruitful and all Chief Ministers had offered significant suggestions."

"The Prime Minister referred to remarks made by Dr. Manmohan Singh on April 30th, 2014 regarding the Planning Commission. He said that Dr. Manmohan Singh, who had been associated for a long time with the Planning Commission, had noted that the body has no futuristic vision in the post-reform period. He had also noted that the Planning Commission would have to reinvent itself to remain more effective and relevant in the present situation," it said.

He also also recalled his own speech on Independence Day, and said that the Planning Commission should be replaced by an organization which can think creatively, strengthen the federal structure, and energize states.

Speaking on the meeting, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said most Chief Ministers attended the meeting.

"The thrust of the new model would be cooperative federalism.Both state and private sector would have an important role," he said.

He said the need to restructuring of the Planning Commission has to be looked into afresh.

Jaitley said Modi said having served as Chief Minister for long time he wants the process to be changed from top to bottom to from bottom to top.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have skipped the meet.

Banerjee, who skipped the meet, has been in a tussle with the Centre for long over Burdwan blasts and Saradha scam investigations.

State Finance Minister Amit Mitra is attending the meeting on her behalf.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has cited Assembly elections in his state as the reason for skipping the meet, reports said.