Centre’s external affairs policy is Trinamool policy: Mamata

Nothwithstanding her party’s stringent opposition to the land boundary agreement and Teesta water sharing pact with Bangladesh, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday stressed that the state’s ruling Trinamool Congress adheres to the central government’s external affairs policy.

“When we go abroad then the country is my priority…when I go abroad I can’t say only my party views. I have to express my views in favour of my country…this is the protocol… many people ask me what is our external (affairs) policy? Government policy is party policy,” she said.

“Country’s interest is more than party policy in certain areas,” Banerjee said speaking on day one of the three-day closing session of the 75th anniversary of the state assembly.

Banerjee’s claim, however, runs contrary to her party’s stand on the two crucial issues affecting Indo-Bangladesh relations.

Banerjee had earlier virtually ruled out accepting the proposed land boundary agreement with Bangladesh in the present form under which 162 adversely held enclaves are to be exchanged between the two countries.

The Teesta water sharing pact has been put on hold after the Trinamool’s strong opposition, over fears that the treaty could spell disaster for northern West Bengal.

In September last year, Banerjee had embarrassed Manmohan Singh by pulling out of the PM-led delegation to Bangladesh over the water sharing agreement, forcing India to drop it from the agenda.

-IANS