BJP goes soft on LBA - bdnews24.com
BJP goes soft on LBA
Samir Purkayastha in Kolkata, bdnews24.com
Published: 2013-09-04 01:06:48.0 BdST Updated: 2013-09-04 05:42:33.0 BdST
The BJP on Tuesday night appeared soft on the Land Boundary Agreement India has signed with Bangladesh.
BJP spokesperson Tarun Vijay agreed that the agreement needed to be ratified in "India's national interest".
So far, the Congress-led UPA government has failed to carry the constitution amendment bill to ratify the agreement because besides the regional parties -- Trinamul Congress and Asom Gana Parishad -- the BJP was also opposing it .
Vijay agreed that the Awami League government had indeed addressed India's security concerns and Delhi should sign both the land boundary and the Teesta water-sharing agreements to send the 'right message to the people of Bangladesh'.
Last month, Varun Gandhi, BJP's General Secretary for West Bengal and Assam, had also supported the agreements in an article in the 'Times of India'.
But joining the NDTV talk show Left, Right and Centre , Vijay criticised the Congress for not "keeping the Opposition posted " on the agreements.
He also said the Centre should address the concerns of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Trinamul Congress MP Saugata Ray appeared to be pitching for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia saying India should have no favourites in Dhaka and should be prepared to deal with whoever comes to power in Dhaka.
Congress minister Shashi Tharoor and former Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Veena Sikri strongly pitched for a national consensus to carry through these agreements.
"We have a great friend in Dhaka, so it would be a disaster if we cannot keep our promises," said Tharoor.
Sikri said if India was to be taken seriously in the world, it must be able to ratify in Parliament an agreement it had signed with a foreign country.
'This merely formalises the situation on ground," she said, rubbishing opposition claims that Indian states like West Bengal and Assam would lose out.
Veteran journalist Subir Bhaumik supported Tharoor and Sikri and said India's future was linked to its security and connectivity in the East and the Awami League had effectively delivered on both.
India's East stood to benefit the most from a friendly Bangladesh and lose the most if that was not the case, he argued.
I agree with Subir Bhaumik, Vijay said chipping into the discussion.
The BJP spokesperson, however, at the beginning of the discussion insisted that national interest of India should be protected while implementing any agreement with the neighbouring country.
Completely isolated, Saugata Roy took shelter behind 'diplomatic niceties' saying Shashi Tharoor should not make statements that appeared to give the impression Delhi controlled Dhaka.
To which Tharoor retorted with his characteristic humour: "Will Mr Roy and his leader (Mamata Banerjee) also dictate my choice of friends? And does he think I lack the IQ to judge who is a friend and who is not?"
BJP goes soft on LBA
Samir Purkayastha in Kolkata, bdnews24.com
Published: 2013-09-04 01:06:48.0 BdST Updated: 2013-09-04 05:42:33.0 BdST
The BJP on Tuesday night appeared soft on the Land Boundary Agreement India has signed with Bangladesh.
BJP spokesperson Tarun Vijay agreed that the agreement needed to be ratified in "India's national interest".
So far, the Congress-led UPA government has failed to carry the constitution amendment bill to ratify the agreement because besides the regional parties -- Trinamul Congress and Asom Gana Parishad -- the BJP was also opposing it .
Vijay agreed that the Awami League government had indeed addressed India's security concerns and Delhi should sign both the land boundary and the Teesta water-sharing agreements to send the 'right message to the people of Bangladesh'.
Last month, Varun Gandhi, BJP's General Secretary for West Bengal and Assam, had also supported the agreements in an article in the 'Times of India'.
But joining the NDTV talk show Left, Right and Centre , Vijay criticised the Congress for not "keeping the Opposition posted " on the agreements.
He also said the Centre should address the concerns of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Trinamul Congress MP Saugata Ray appeared to be pitching for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia saying India should have no favourites in Dhaka and should be prepared to deal with whoever comes to power in Dhaka.
Congress minister Shashi Tharoor and former Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Veena Sikri strongly pitched for a national consensus to carry through these agreements.
"We have a great friend in Dhaka, so it would be a disaster if we cannot keep our promises," said Tharoor.
Sikri said if India was to be taken seriously in the world, it must be able to ratify in Parliament an agreement it had signed with a foreign country.
'This merely formalises the situation on ground," she said, rubbishing opposition claims that Indian states like West Bengal and Assam would lose out.
Veteran journalist Subir Bhaumik supported Tharoor and Sikri and said India's future was linked to its security and connectivity in the East and the Awami League had effectively delivered on both.
India's East stood to benefit the most from a friendly Bangladesh and lose the most if that was not the case, he argued.
I agree with Subir Bhaumik, Vijay said chipping into the discussion.
The BJP spokesperson, however, at the beginning of the discussion insisted that national interest of India should be protected while implementing any agreement with the neighbouring country.
Completely isolated, Saugata Roy took shelter behind 'diplomatic niceties' saying Shashi Tharoor should not make statements that appeared to give the impression Delhi controlled Dhaka.
To which Tharoor retorted with his characteristic humour: "Will Mr Roy and his leader (Mamata Banerjee) also dictate my choice of friends? And does he think I lack the IQ to judge who is a friend and who is not?"
