New Delhi: India’s map is set to change soon, with Parliament on Thursday unanimously approving the operationalisation of the landmark India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement that provides for the exchange of territories as Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed great political maturity by personally thanking Congress president Sonia Gandhi for her party’s support.
The Lok Sabha, showing rare unanimity, passed the Constitution (119th Amendment) Bill with all 331 members present in the House voting for the bill, that became the 100th Constitution Amendment passed by Parliament. Immediately after the bill was passed, Mr Modi walked up to the Opposition benches to thank all the leaders, including Congress president Sonia Gandhi and House leader Mallikarjun Kharge, as well as BJD’s B. Mahtab, TMC’s Sudip Bandyopadhyay and AIADMK leader P. Venugopal.
Replying to the debate, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said the agreement was beneficial for both the countries, and that there will be a “notional” loss of territory without borders getting contracted. India will get 510 acres while Bangladesh will get 10,000 acres.
“But these are notional figures as these areas are deep inside the territories of the two countries. Our borders are not getting contracted,” she said, while responding to questions by members on whether India will lose some territory.
Ms Swaraj said the only issue that still remains to be settled with Bangladesh is that of the sharing of river waters, primarily relating to the Teesta. Meanwhile, the Asom Gana Parishad called a 10-hour-long Assam bandh opposing the land swap deal, accusing Mr Modi of betraying the people of Assam. AGP leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said that the plot of land in Boraibari for which 16 BSF soldiers had sacrificed their lives in 2001 has now been given to Bangladesh.
