Northeast India upset over stalled talks with Bangladesh

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

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Northeast upset over stalled talks with Bangladesh

Northeast upset over stalled talks with Bangladesh - India - DNA

Published: Tuesday, Jul 10, 2012, 10:15 IST
By Iftikhar Gilani | Place: New Delhi | Agency: DNA

Prime minister Manmohan Singh’s failure to reciprocate Bangladesh’s “peace gestures” either by granting a concession on Teesta River water or operationalising the already signed land boundary agreement is frustrating the chief ministers of the north-eastern states.

The ministers are peeved at the UPA government’s inability and indecisiveness to table the Border Management Bill in the previous budget session of Parliament due to stiff opposition from the Trinamool and the BJP. “The delay is hampering the trans-border trade, contact and cooperation. Improvement in relations with Bangladesh is a real game-changer for the north east,” said Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma.

Government officials here admit that Hasina Wajid’s government in Dhaka has immensely contributed towards maintaining peace in the militancy-affected north-eastern states. She reversed the policy of her predecessors by ordering closure of several militancy training camps and even handed over some hardcore Assam militants to India.

Five Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram share a 2,429 mile-long border with Bangladesh.

Without naming them, chief minister Sangma told DNA, “Certain political parties were bent to ruin the prime minister’s look east vision and his carefully strategic initiative towards Dhaka.” He believes that his state, along with the entire north-east, were on the verge of making huge strides in development by the look-east policy.

The CPI (M) government in Tripura is also demanding greater economic engagement with Bangladesh. Sangma, who met prime minister Singh in Delhi recently, demanded improvement in internal waterways to Bangladesh to promote cross border investments. Further, he also asked for a transit route to Bangladesh’s Chittagong port, claiming it was the nearest port for all in the north-east.

Stressing on cooperation with the neighbouring country, the chief minister said improved relations had enabled us to move heavy machinery from Kolkata to Tripura through Bangladesh territory to set up the Palatan gas-based power plant.

Sangma is annoyed that while the BJP is making an issue of the India-Dhaka relations, it ignored its ally, Punjab chief minister Prakash Singh Badal’s, underlining his state’s expansive interests in reconciliation with Pakistan.“I am desperately waiting for the day when people of both the Punjabis would freely move across the borders without visa restrictions,” Badal had said a few months ago while inaugurating facilities at Attari-Wagah border.

[boltu]

Such unlucky people of North-East,they are yet to realize North Indian rulers don't care about them.NE states should be happy for now because BAL govt. giving them transits,but BNP won't hesitate to stop the transit for water.

[Yogi]

Such unlucky people of North-East,they are yet to realize North Indian rulers don't care about them.NE states should be happy for now because BAL govt. giving them transits,but BNP won't hesitate to stop the transit for water.

Yep thats true UPA should try everything in its power n make BAL agree for some permanent transit treaty

the northeast state have been long denied there rightful importance but thanks to china that GOI is waking up
All i can say is better now then never...

[boltu]

Yes there should be some treaty for transit but before that it has to be made sure, the treaty is transparent and beneficial for both the countries.

[Yogi]

Yes there should be some treaty for transit but before that it has to be made sure, the treaty is transparent and beneficial for both the countries.

Ofcourse i agree a treaty is always for mutual benefit n its upto BD govt. as to how much transparency they can maintain bcoz i can assure u that GOI will make sure thats india interests get the upmost importance

But i sincerely wish for a mutual benefit treaty
n the fencing work is also expexted to finish by year end(75% already complete)

I think these 2 things will solve many major issues on both side n we would be able to focus more on economic front rather than social n political issues...

[Soumya_india]

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[Jade]

India should have granted concession on Teesta River water to Bangladesh.

[Ammyy]

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Such unlucky people of North-East,they are yet to realize North Indian rulers don't care about them.NE states should be happy for now because BAL govt. giving them transits,but BNP won't hesitate to stop the transit for water.

till now India did not stop water supply but may be Jamati joker will force us to do this.