A week ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday reportedly announced that the trip would not include signing of Teesta water-sharing deal with Dhaka.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Swaraj said, “It is not going to happen during this visit (of the PM) because I know the facts. Whatever decision on Teesta needs to be taken, it has to take into account the state government’s views. The decision will be taken by consulting them. The state government will have to be taken on board.”
Swaraj also said that the views of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is accompanying PM Modi to Bangladesh, must be taken before finalising the deal with Bangladesh, as reported by a news agency, adding to it that there is ‘no possibility’ of Banerjee calling the trip off.
Acknowledging the importance of water-sharing issue, Swaraj also remarked that both the countries will have to talk about 54 rivers along with Teesta.
PM Modi is visiting Bangladesh on June 6-7 to strengthen the bilateral ties between the countries.