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Cabinet clears Bangla land swap deal

By Spl CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI, Feb 13 � In a move having wider ramifications, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday cleared the land swap deal with Bangladesh. A Constitution amendment Bill ratifying the agreement is likely to be tabled during the ensuing Budget Session of the Parliament.

Setting the stage for a confrontation with the Opposition BJP, which is opposed to the deal, the Union Cabinet cleared the Bill this evening. At least 268.39 acre of land belonging to Assam would be transferred to Bangladesh.

The Constitution amendment Bill, titled Constitution Amendment Bill for Implementation of India-Bangladesh Land and Boundary Agreement and Protocol to Land Boundary Agreement is likely to witness some deft political manoeuvring on the part of the UPA II.

An estimated 200 acre of land in Karimganj and Dhubri districts is likely to go to Bangladesh, though the boundary problem is expected to be resolved permanently. The Bill would be moved by the Minister of External Affairs, Salman Khursid.

Incidentally, the Cabinet clearance came within a day of the visit of Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai to Dhaka. He was reportedly rushed to assure the jittery Bangladesh Government that the Bill ratifying the land swap deal would be tabled in the Parliament soon.

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