India, Bangladesh to sign Teesta deal soon: Rajnath

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bangladesh trip, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited Kolkata to garner support from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in inking the Teesta water sharing treaty with the neighbouring country.

Mamata was instrumental in putting the treaty in the backburner during the UPA regime, when Manmohan Singh took steps to strike the deal in 2011.

“Both the countries will give their approval to it very soon. We’re hopeful of full cooperation from the West Bengal government,” Rajnath said at a press conference here on Tuesday.

The announcement comes in the wake of a statement by Bangladesh High Commissioner Syed Muazzem Ali, who expressed hope last week that the pact will be signed during Modi’s visit.

Ali had also noted that the Indian government has briefed Bangladesh on “internal discussions” the Centre was having with West Bengal government. Incidentally, Mamata is scheduled to accompany Modi on the tour.