India may finalise Teesta, land boundary deals, says Sushma Swaraj

The issue of land boundary and Teesta water-sharing agreements with Bangladesh is likely to be sorted out in a joint consultative commission (JCC) meeting in New Delhi on Sep 20.

Announcing this here on Monday, India’s foreign minister Sushma Swaraj said both the issues will be discussed in the crucial gathering.

“Political consultations are underway on Indo-Bangla Land Boundary Agreement while the government was trying to build a consensus for the Teesta pact,” Swaraj said in a press conference in New Delhi.

The Land Boundary Agreement was already introduced in Rajya Sabha and referred to the select committee. With a new government taking over, the select committee has been reconstituted now.

The agreement is aimed at settling the issue of enclaves and adverse possession along the 4,069-km border between both the countries. It is seen as an important confidence-building measure.

Referring to the Teesta agreement, Swaraj said her government was trying to develop a consensus.

On the issue of jailed Assamese separatist outfit ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia, Swaraj said the process was on to have him extradited to India.

Her statement assumes significance as several groups in India, including the pro-talks ULFA faction, have been trying to bring Cheita back from Bangladesh.