NEW DELHI: Making a U-turn in less than a week, the Union Cabinet approved the Constitutional amendment to implement the land boundary agreement between India and Bangladesh, which will include territories in Assam and will be tabled in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
Last Wednesday, the Cabinet had approved a modified 119th Constitutional Amendment Bill, which excluded Assam, citing strident opposition in the north-eastern state. Within a week, the government has reverted to the Cabinet and passed the original form of the Bill — a nod to the reality of numerical strength in Rajya Sabha, with Congress adamant on inclusion of Assam.
The Cabinet met on Tuesday morning to approve the Bill, which will be introduced by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday afternoon. With the Opposition in accord, it is expected to be passed on Wednesday itself before going to the Lok Sabha on Thursday. The passage of the Bill will finally pave the way for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to travel to Bangladesh in June.
Assam territories had not been included in the Bill approved by the Cabinet last week, as BJP strategists felt that it would allow them to gain ground politically in the 2016 Assembly polls. But during the business advisory committee meeting last Thursday, the Congress made clear its opposition to the truncated Bill.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had also vocally come out against the Bill during the weekend.
On Monday, BJP president Amit Shah held a meeting with BJP and RSS seniors and informed them the government will go ahead with the original form of the pact.
Congress Opposes Bill on Land Swap
But during the business advisory committee meeting last Thursday, Congress had made clear its opposition to the truncated bill. The Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi had also vocally come out against the bill during the weekend.
Meanwhile, there were murmurs within BJP that this was not a sound electoral strategy, as it was abundantly clear that India will have to include Assam at some stage — in line with its international commitment.
On Monday, BJP president Amit Shah held a meeting with BJP and RSS senior members, including from the Assam unit to tell them that the government will go ahead with the original form of the land boundary pact. Earlier, deputy leader of congress in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma had told external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj that Congress would not support the two-phase implementation. With the ruling NDA handicapped by numbers in the Upper House, the government had not much choice but to bring a bill which included Assam.
Trinamool Congress, which had created an uproar during the introduction of the UPA bill, had come around to supporting the land boundary agreement, after West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had a successful trip to Dhaka.
The enclaves in contention have existed since 1947. India and Bangladesh signed an agreement for exchange of the enclaves following Bangladesh’s liberation in 1971. But the exchange could not take place due to non-ratification of the pact by Parliament. Hence, they continue to remain disputed.
The enclaves are sparsely populated and lack better amenities, services and policing among others. Both India and Bangladesh believe that once the exchange of land takes place, it will de-escalate conflict on the border leading to an improvement in bilateral ties. In December, Modi had said that the move would help improve security.
