Swaraj calls Mamata before leaving for Dhaka
Hours before her departure for Dhaka in a goodwill visit to Bangladesh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj of the BJP-led new Indian government today spoke to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who had blocked Teesta water-sharing deal three years ago.
Swaraj made a call to Banerjee to "touch-base" and tell her about her visit to Dhaka during, which the external affairs minister will hold talks with top Bangladeshi leadership on key bilateral issues including Land Boundary Agreement (LBA), proposed Teesta river pact and illegal immigration to India.
The sources declined to give details about Swaraj's conversation with Mamata Banerjee, reports our Correspondent from Delhi.
Swaraj took charge as the external affairs minister on May 28.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj speaks to Mamata Banerjee ahead of Bangladesh visit - NDTV http://t.co/xenT0zZIAG
— NDTV (@ndtv) June 25, 2014
In 2011, Mamata Banerjee, then an ally of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government, had backed out from then prime minister Manmohan Singh's Bangladesh visit, opposing the Teesta water sharing treaty between India and Bangladesh. Her action forced shelving the much-talked-about treaty.
Swaraj embarks on her first foreign visit to Bangladesh as the external affairs minister. http://t.co/TNw19K9PEM pic.twitter.com/1EYcq2nyxL
— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) June 24, 2014
The Indian delegation, which is expected to raise issues like illegal immigration and market access, is also prepared that Bangladesh will raise the "touchy" issues of LBA and proposed Teesta river pact during the visit beginning tonight.
This is Swaraj's first stand-alone foreign visit after becoming minister.
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