Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said technical flaws in the draft agreement of the Teesta water sharing could not have been the cause for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee opting out of the trip.
Some other factors must have cropped up at the last moment after the visit of National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon to Bangladesh to finalise the draft after having discussed the issue with Banerjee, he said on his way back.
The last moment cancellation by Banerjee was a matter of serious concern and caused some embarrassment for both India and Bangladesh,who signed a series of MoUs and a border agreement but failed to sign the crucial Teesta river water sharing pact.
Asked if he would like to send any political emissary to Banerjee to sort out the differences,the Prime Minister said: When a senior adviser is sent for consultation he does have a political mission.
He then went on to explain the sequence of events,saying: I was personally in touch with Mamata Banerjee for quite some time. I sent Shivshankar Menon to meet and to seek guidance from her on all aspects. It was then at the meeting of the Committee on Political Affairs that Dinesh Trivedi raised some objections. Menon went again to meet Mamata Banerjee and when things were sorted out he went to Bangladesh to give final shape to the draft. At this stage some other factors cropped up for which she cancelled the visit, he added.
He,however,said water was a sensitive issue and the central government will work closely with Banerjee to sort out the differences.
Wrapping up his two-day visit,the PM said it had been a landmark one as the border issues were sorted out. I am satisfied…above everything else it had been a sentimental affair.
