31 Mar 2017, 11:47:31
Pranab Mukherjee invites Mamata Banerjee to dinner for Sheikh Hasina
Indian president Pranab Mukherjee has formally invited West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to the ceremonial dinner he is hosting for Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Apr 7.
"A formal letter of invitation has been sent to the West Bengal chief minister from Rastrapati Bhavan," a source close to Mukherjee said.
The source said Mukherjee wants to bring Mamata face to face with PM Hasina to break the deadlock on the vexed issue of sharing Teesta's water.
PM Hasina is scheduled to arrive in Delhi on a three-day visit to India on April 7. The same day, the Indian president will host the dinner in her honour. Hasina will be staying in Rastrapati Bhavan during her time in Delhi, reports bdnews24.com.
It was not yet clear whether Mamata has accepted the invitation.
Sources in her party indicate that she would be willing to meet Hasina in Delhi if the Indian government involves West Bengal in the negotiations over Teesta.
The Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Gopal Bagley has said all stakeholders including West Bengal will be included in the Teesta negotiations.
But Mamata has alleged that has not been the case so far.
As India's foreign minister during the Congress-led UPA regime, President Mukherjee has detailed personal experience about the Teesta issue.
The Modi government is trying to break the deadlock on the issue by using his vast experience and intimate relations with both Mamata and Sheikh Hasina.
It may try bringing together chief ministers of other Indian states bordering Bangladesh to meet Sheikh Hasina during her visit to Delhi along with Mamata Banerjee.
Pranab Mukherjee invites Mamata Banerjee to dinner for Sheikh Hasina
Indian president Pranab Mukherjee has formally invited West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to the ceremonial dinner he is hosting for Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Apr 7.
"A formal letter of invitation has been sent to the West Bengal chief minister from Rastrapati Bhavan," a source close to Mukherjee said.
The source said Mukherjee wants to bring Mamata face to face with PM Hasina to break the deadlock on the vexed issue of sharing Teesta's water.
PM Hasina is scheduled to arrive in Delhi on a three-day visit to India on April 7. The same day, the Indian president will host the dinner in her honour. Hasina will be staying in Rastrapati Bhavan during her time in Delhi, reports bdnews24.com.
It was not yet clear whether Mamata has accepted the invitation.
Sources in her party indicate that she would be willing to meet Hasina in Delhi if the Indian government involves West Bengal in the negotiations over Teesta.
The Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Gopal Bagley has said all stakeholders including West Bengal will be included in the Teesta negotiations.
But Mamata has alleged that has not been the case so far.
As India's foreign minister during the Congress-led UPA regime, President Mukherjee has detailed personal experience about the Teesta issue.
The Modi government is trying to break the deadlock on the issue by using his vast experience and intimate relations with both Mamata and Sheikh Hasina.
It may try bringing together chief ministers of other Indian states bordering Bangladesh to meet Sheikh Hasina during her visit to Delhi along with Mamata Banerjee.