Chief Ministers of a number of states including those from Gujarat, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal on Saturday skipped the meeting of the prime minister-led National Integration Council in New Delhi.
Among those who skipped the meeting were Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Bihar's CM Nitish Kumar, Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa, Uttar Pradesh CM Mayawati, West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee and Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal.
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah, who had a seat marked for him on the dais with the prime minister, was also not present.
The meeting was attended by senior Union ministers, chief ministers, Leaders of Opposition in Parliament, leaders of national and regional political parties among others.