Nothing spectacular likely with Sushma Swaraj’s visit
Shamsuddin Ahmed
Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj has chosen Bangladesh her first stand-alone visit abroad since her Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed power last month. She flew to Dhaka on June 25 amid illusion of some people and enthusiasm of a section of the press that the new government in Delhi looks forward in resolving the long standing contentious issues between the two neighbouring countries.
However, many say it is unlikely to happen now or even in a distant future, because of the lack of trust factor and a change in Delhi’s mindset. Sushma is scheduled to leave Dahaka for home today (Friday) ending the “consolation visit”.
Three immediate issues waiting to resolve are 1) Implementation of the 2011 protocol to the 1974 land boundary agreement; 2) Sharing of Teesta water; and 3) demarcation of maritime boundary. The last one is lying in the International Court which is scheduled to pronounce its verdict on July 2.
Attempt to bemuse Dhaka
The prospect of implementation of the land boundary accord is remote. The immediate past Congress led UPA government tried in vain to introduce the constitution amendment bill, requiring ratification of the agreement, in the last winter session of parliament in the face of furious protest by BJP and all others except ruling Congress and the insignificant Left parties. It is Sushma Swaraj who led the opponents. Finally the bill had to be withdrawn.
The bill proposed exchange of 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh and 51 Bangladesh enclaves in India, where the residents are virtually stateless and have been living in utter miseries. The enclaves are in West Bengal, Meghalaya, Assam and Tripura and in Bangladesh. Miseries and distress of common man seemed no concern for Indian political leaders where multitudes of neglected tribal, adivasis and low caste Hindus live in abject poverty.
The opponents to the land boundary agreement claimed its implementation will result in loss of 10,000 acres of land to India. They argued sacrificing land will encourage secessionists, active in Kashmir and northeastern states.
West Bengal Chief Minister Sreemoti Mamata Banerjee had declared she will never allow the land boundary agreement with Bangladesh to be implemented.
An agreement on 50:50 sharing of Teesta water was ready to be signed during the visit to Dhaka of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh along with chief ministers of neighbouring states. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had created a stumbling block. She opposed the accord and declined to come to Dhaka.
Originating from Sikkim, Teesta flows through northern part of West Bengal down to Bangladesh. The agreement could not be signed without the consent of the state concerned. In fact, small dams and embankments had already been built in the upstream for full utilization of the Teesta water for irrigation and generation of electricity leaving not a single cusec to spare. Needless to say, all infrastructures were built with the knowledge and assistance from the central government in Delhi. Proposed Teesta water sharing agreement was a facade of Delhi to bemuse Dhaka.
Transit is no one way deal
It is said Delhi always applied stick-and-carrot policy in dealing with all its neghbours. In all likelihood Sushma will raise fresh issue of “illegal Bangladeshi immigrants” in India, especially in Assam, The number is estimated to five crore. Deporting them to Bangladesh was a main poll plank of BJP. The constant politicking and migrant-bashing rhetoric has made sure that on the streets of Assam, anyone who wears a lungi, sports beard, speaks in Bangla and has Muslim surname is a Bangladeshi. This has raised worries among 20 crore Muslims in India and those in other countries. The so-called illegal Bangdeshi issue of BJP will no doubt add to impede good neighbourly relationship.
Many on the streets of Dhaka question the wisdom of awarding concessions to India when it drags feet in resolving the water sharing of the common rivers, stopping shooting down of innocent people by BSF along the border and long standing land boundary issues. Should we not withdraw the river and road transport facility to eastern states of India? It will be wishful thinking if one expects to please or win over India by making unilateral concessions to its unreasonable demands in bilateral issues. If you falter, they can be insatiable. The result may just be the opposite.
The best and fruitful relationship with India was probably during the Janata Party government led by Morarji Desai. The 1977 Ganges water sharing agreement was signed by his government despite strongly opposed by Congress leader Mrs Indira Gandhi. When expired in 1982 Congress government declined to renew the agreement. President Ziaur Rahman visited India in December 1977 and had fruitful talks with Desai. On return Zia said there are two difficult issues with India “Farakka and dissidents”. I think these are solved, he had told reporters.
Bilateral issues
Desai, accompanied by External Affairs Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, made a return visit to Dhaka April 16-18. Joint Communique issued at the end of the visit said the two sides noted with satisfaction that their discussions contributed greatly towards mutual trust and friendship between the two countries. Desai’s warm feeling for Bangladesh was amply reflected in happy ending of his press conference at Bangabhavan.
Desai’s concern for security of life of Zia became known after a decade. India’s super spy agency RAW plan for killing of Ziaur Rahman was revealed by Kolkata-based weekly magazine The Sunday. As far as this scribe remembers the magazine in one of its May 1988 issue made a reference to the plan. The cover story ‘Spying is the oldest profession’ said the plan approved by the previous Congress government was taken to Desai when he assumed the office of Prime Minister. Desai was appalled to see the plan, the magazine said. He asked reason for such heinous plan of killing the president of a neighbouring country. The RAW official pleaded that the plan has advanced and cancellation at this stage will risk the life of some of their moles. Desai dismissed all pleas. Ultimately Zia was killed in Chittagong in 1983 when Desai was not in power.
Holiday
Shamsuddin Ahmed
Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj has chosen Bangladesh her first stand-alone visit abroad since her Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed power last month. She flew to Dhaka on June 25 amid illusion of some people and enthusiasm of a section of the press that the new government in Delhi looks forward in resolving the long standing contentious issues between the two neighbouring countries.
However, many say it is unlikely to happen now or even in a distant future, because of the lack of trust factor and a change in Delhi’s mindset. Sushma is scheduled to leave Dahaka for home today (Friday) ending the “consolation visit”.
Three immediate issues waiting to resolve are 1) Implementation of the 2011 protocol to the 1974 land boundary agreement; 2) Sharing of Teesta water; and 3) demarcation of maritime boundary. The last one is lying in the International Court which is scheduled to pronounce its verdict on July 2.
Attempt to bemuse Dhaka
The prospect of implementation of the land boundary accord is remote. The immediate past Congress led UPA government tried in vain to introduce the constitution amendment bill, requiring ratification of the agreement, in the last winter session of parliament in the face of furious protest by BJP and all others except ruling Congress and the insignificant Left parties. It is Sushma Swaraj who led the opponents. Finally the bill had to be withdrawn.
The bill proposed exchange of 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh and 51 Bangladesh enclaves in India, where the residents are virtually stateless and have been living in utter miseries. The enclaves are in West Bengal, Meghalaya, Assam and Tripura and in Bangladesh. Miseries and distress of common man seemed no concern for Indian political leaders where multitudes of neglected tribal, adivasis and low caste Hindus live in abject poverty.
The opponents to the land boundary agreement claimed its implementation will result in loss of 10,000 acres of land to India. They argued sacrificing land will encourage secessionists, active in Kashmir and northeastern states.
West Bengal Chief Minister Sreemoti Mamata Banerjee had declared she will never allow the land boundary agreement with Bangladesh to be implemented.
An agreement on 50:50 sharing of Teesta water was ready to be signed during the visit to Dhaka of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh along with chief ministers of neighbouring states. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had created a stumbling block. She opposed the accord and declined to come to Dhaka.
Originating from Sikkim, Teesta flows through northern part of West Bengal down to Bangladesh. The agreement could not be signed without the consent of the state concerned. In fact, small dams and embankments had already been built in the upstream for full utilization of the Teesta water for irrigation and generation of electricity leaving not a single cusec to spare. Needless to say, all infrastructures were built with the knowledge and assistance from the central government in Delhi. Proposed Teesta water sharing agreement was a facade of Delhi to bemuse Dhaka.
Transit is no one way deal
It is said Delhi always applied stick-and-carrot policy in dealing with all its neghbours. In all likelihood Sushma will raise fresh issue of “illegal Bangladeshi immigrants” in India, especially in Assam, The number is estimated to five crore. Deporting them to Bangladesh was a main poll plank of BJP. The constant politicking and migrant-bashing rhetoric has made sure that on the streets of Assam, anyone who wears a lungi, sports beard, speaks in Bangla and has Muslim surname is a Bangladeshi. This has raised worries among 20 crore Muslims in India and those in other countries. The so-called illegal Bangdeshi issue of BJP will no doubt add to impede good neighbourly relationship.
Many on the streets of Dhaka question the wisdom of awarding concessions to India when it drags feet in resolving the water sharing of the common rivers, stopping shooting down of innocent people by BSF along the border and long standing land boundary issues. Should we not withdraw the river and road transport facility to eastern states of India? It will be wishful thinking if one expects to please or win over India by making unilateral concessions to its unreasonable demands in bilateral issues. If you falter, they can be insatiable. The result may just be the opposite.
The best and fruitful relationship with India was probably during the Janata Party government led by Morarji Desai. The 1977 Ganges water sharing agreement was signed by his government despite strongly opposed by Congress leader Mrs Indira Gandhi. When expired in 1982 Congress government declined to renew the agreement. President Ziaur Rahman visited India in December 1977 and had fruitful talks with Desai. On return Zia said there are two difficult issues with India “Farakka and dissidents”. I think these are solved, he had told reporters.
Bilateral issues
Desai, accompanied by External Affairs Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, made a return visit to Dhaka April 16-18. Joint Communique issued at the end of the visit said the two sides noted with satisfaction that their discussions contributed greatly towards mutual trust and friendship between the two countries. Desai’s warm feeling for Bangladesh was amply reflected in happy ending of his press conference at Bangabhavan.
Desai’s concern for security of life of Zia became known after a decade. India’s super spy agency RAW plan for killing of Ziaur Rahman was revealed by Kolkata-based weekly magazine The Sunday. As far as this scribe remembers the magazine in one of its May 1988 issue made a reference to the plan. The cover story ‘Spying is the oldest profession’ said the plan approved by the previous Congress government was taken to Desai when he assumed the office of Prime Minister. Desai was appalled to see the plan, the magazine said. He asked reason for such heinous plan of killing the president of a neighbouring country. The RAW official pleaded that the plan has advanced and cancellation at this stage will risk the life of some of their moles. Desai dismissed all pleas. Ultimately Zia was killed in Chittagong in 1983 when Desai was not in power.
Holiday
