BJP president hints at support

President of India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party Rajnath Singh yesterday indicated that he favoured a resolution of land boundary issue with Bangladesh but his party appeared cautious about endorsing the constitution amendment bill, given strong opposition in the border states of Assam and West Bengal.
At the Idea Exchange programme at “The Indian Express” newspaper, Singh said, "I would want that the government of India should try to put a sweetener... to try to compensate for the deal. But the boundary dispute should get resolved. We will try our best, there is no opposition from our side."
Hours later, the BJP top brass meeting at BJP parliamentary party chairman LK Advani's residence appeared not to agree and reportedly decided to take a "cautious" line.
The 1974 India-Bangladesh land boundary agreement envisages India handing over 111 land enclaves to Bangladesh in return for 51 enclaves from Dhaka. India would have to let go of over 17,000 acres of territory in exchange for a little over 7,000 acres.
The move requires a constitutional amendment with two-thirds majority which cannot be passed in parliament without BJP's support.