Indian efforts on for Teesta deal
India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday reiterated that efforts were on for evolving a domestic consensus on signing the long-awaited Teesta water-sharing deal with Bangladesh.
She said the constitution amendment bill, placed in Rajya Sabha, upper House of parliament last year, for ratifying the land boundary agreement with Bangladesh has been referred to parliamentary Standing Committee and its report was awaited before the government takes a call.
Addressing her first press conference since taking over more than three months ago, Swaraj said she had raised the issue of illegal migration from Bangladesh when she met Hasina in Dhaka in June this year.
Swaraj also said the issue of extradition of Ulfa leader Anup Chetia was also discussed by her with Hasina but there is no timeframe for his handing over to India.
The signing of Teesta deal has been pending since September, 2011, since West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee opposed it and pulled out of the then Indian PM Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka.
While Bangladesh has approved the LBA long ago, its operationalization needs Indian parliament's approval because it involves land swap by envisaging transfer of sovereignty of 161 adversely-held enclaves and adjusting the boundary in some places.
After Rajya Sabha clears the bill, it will go to the Lok Sabha, the lower House of parliament whose members are directly elected by people.
The next session of parliament is due only in December.
Swaraj also said the India-Bangladesh Joint Consultative Commission meeting will be held here on September 20 when the entire range of bilateral issues will be discussed.
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