NEW DELHI, Sept 9 � Hailing both the Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh for their bold initiatives, Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi rebuffing the opposition, clarified that Assam got 1240 acres of land compared to Bangladesh�s share of 357.5 acres.
The pressure on Central Government is likely to mount over the land deal, with the BJP central leadership on Friday stating that there should be no compromise on the territorial integrity of the nation. The Prime Minister, while briefing the BJP�s top leaders ahead of the visit never mentioned that he was going to give away land to Bangladesh, said Opposition leader, Sushma Swaraj.
Addressing a press conference, a confident-looking Chief Minister, with two of his close confidants and State Ministers, Himanta Biswa Sarma and Rockibul Hussain by his side, sought to clarify by furnishing the details of the land transfer deals. Last evening, the Chief Minister was briefed by senior officials of the Ministry of External Affairs at Assam Bhavan.
The Chief Minister argued that Boroibari in Dhubri district was never part of India, as the land was in possession of Bangladesh though on map it was India�s territory. The 193 acres has been settled with Bangladesh but Assam Government refused to concede to the demand for handing over 455 acres Pallathal Tea Estate.
The lease agreement and the company that runs the tea estate are with Bangladesh. They wanted the entire garden but �we gave them only 74.05 acres. In Karimganj district, Bangladesh wanted 144 acres, but it has not been given.�
In the un-demarcated Lathitila-Dumabari, the land belongs to India but people have left their land in 1965 and they don�t want to go back now and want compensation. India has got 714 acres, while 90 acres have been given away to Bangladesh and the border is now demarcated, Gogoi said.
The agreements would be effective only after the Parliament ratifies them, he further clarified.
Reminding that the dispute has been on since long, the Chief Minister said he does not wanted to get involved in a debate over figures, he said economic benefits, trade and commerce and better border management should be the focus areas. �We want to improve our ties with Bangladesh,� he said.
Profusely thanking Prime Minister of Bangladesh for her support in flushing out the insurgent leaders taking shelter in the country, Gogoi said Sheikh Hasina definitely played a great role in defeating terrorism.
�It was a great help. If they had continued supporting, how could we have controlled insurgency,?� the Chief Minister asked.
About illegal influx, the Chief Minister said he raised the issue and broached up the subject of expatriation of the illegal aliens detained in Assam.
The Chief Minister said after Assam and Bangladesh establish direct contact, the two sides can resolve such problems one by one. �I must thank the Prime Minister of India and Bangladesh for their bold steps and agreements would be for the benefit of the people of Assam,?� the Chief Minister asked.
The Chief Minister pointed out that like him, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh also faces criticism for yielding too much to India.
Taking the Opposition parties head on, the Chief Minister compared AGP to Rip Van Winkle and observed that the regional party�s slumber was even longer than him.
�My question to AGP and BJP is when was this fencing work taken up? It is AGP, who erected the fences and gave up these areas. Now they are accusing us, but have they ever taken up these issues,� the Chief Minister asked.
�Did Vajpayee Government ever take these things with Bangladesh?� he further questioned.
