Buddha attacks Mamata on Teesta

Former communist chief minister of West Bengal, Buddhadev Bhattacharjee has attacked his successor Mamata Banerjee for opposing the Teesta river water sharing treaty with Bangladesh.

Speaking to journalists after a CPI (M) state executive meeting in Kolkata, the former chief minister raised the question about why Mamata was adopting a stand that could only bolster fundamentalist forces in Bangladesh and help to create unrest there.

“We all want good relations with Bangladesh. We don’t want communal forces and anti-India forces to thrive there. We want a secular Bangladesh friendly to India but how do we ensure that if its bonafide demands are not met," said Bhattacharjee.

The CPI (M) politburo member appeared furious over Mamata Banerjee's opposition to the Teesta river water sharing that forced Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to back off from signing the agreement during his last visit to Dhaka in 2011.

“Was it really necessary to create an impasse on water sharing and enclaves? The matter could have been solved rationally,” Bhattacharjee said.

He alluded to the 'positive role' played by his predecessor and legendary Communist leader Jyoti Basu in piloting the Indo-Bangladesh Ganges Water sharing treaty in 1997.

"Comrade Jyoti Basu took it on himself to pilot the treaty. He acted responsibly. But now look what Mamata Banerjee is doing! She is opposing all legitimate moves taken by India to meet the aspirations of Bangladesh. She is proving to be the stumbling block," Bhattacharjee said.

And then he added a question mark: "Is she doing this in West Bengal's interest or because someone else is prompting her to do all these !".

Bhattacharjee also took a dig at Pakistani High Commissioner Salman Bashir handing over an invitation by his Prime Minister to Banerjee to visit Pakistan.

“Pakistan is not our priority. Bangladesh is. The people of Bengal can never oppose Bangladesh as we all share a bond. Do they (the Trinamool Congress-led government) want unrest and fundamental forces to prevail in Bangladesh?

“Is this the reason that Pakistan’s Ambassador has come to invite her? We also want good relations with Pakistan, but not at the cost of Bangladesh,” Bhattacharjee said.