Being Mamata

The fact of India-Bangladesh ties coming up to a new level is set to paradigmatically change the economic geography and political face of the eastern subcontinent. This is the broader context of Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs visit to Bangladesh. Not only incremental regional economic integration but also big-ticket ideas such as a trans-Asian road and rail network have been on hold because of the hitherto inability of India and Bangladesh to qualitatively change their bilateral dynamic. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas initiatives came at an opportune moment when global perceptions about Dhakas economic prospects have become distinctly optimistic. But Bangladeshs plans of becoming the subcontinents economic bridge,tying it to Southeast Asia,would have gone nowhere without substantially improving ties with New Delhi. For the promise of restored connectivity between the Indian mainland and its landlocked Northeast and mutual prosperity,Delhi had agreed to move ahead with the Teesta and Feni water-sharing agreement besides sorting out the border demarcation issue.

Which is why,West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees last-minute threat to refuse to accompany the prime minister to Dhaka,over the very issue of water-sharing,is disappointing. While three other border-state chief ministers Assam,Tripura and Mizoram will be in Dhaka,this was also meant to be a big moment for Bengal in particular,to get over the disruptions of Partition. Granting Banerjee the right to disagree on river water in her capacity as the chief minister of an affected state,water-sharing is after all only one issue,albeit very important for both Bangladesh and West Bengal. But to haggle over a few cusecs of water therein is to miss the larger picture,which is precisely what Banerjees latest tantrum amounts to. Instead,as the chief minister of West Bengal,Banerjee needs to be more pro-active in encouraging Delhi and Dhaka on the integrated river management projects,in order to move ahead and not back.

For now,the Union government will not move on Teesta waters without consulting Banerjee. Nevertheless,this turn still shows how pertinent local feedback and involvement are in dealing with subcontinental neighbours. The effort should be to make these factors facilitators and not obstructions.