Congress takes credit for Indo-Bangla initiative

The Congress Party on Saturday said that the initiative taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to improve the relations between India and Bangladesh is entirely the brainchild of the former UPA regime.

"The Bangladesh initiative is entirely an UPA initiative. This is a completion of a public interest, national interest task initiated by the UPA and in that sense we are happy that what we started and largely completed has been carried to flourish," Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi told ANI.

Another Congress leader Tom Vadakkan echoing similar sentiments said Prime Minister Modi's visit to Bangladesh is a victory for both nations and not the present government's success.

"After consultation with the opposition it happened. It is not the victory of government, it is the victory of India and Bangladesh," he said.

Prime Minister Modi is presently on a two-day official visit to Bangladesh.

In a departure from protocol, he was received at the airport in Dhaka by Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Prime Minister Modi will hold wide-ranging talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart, who will also host him to a banquet tonight.

The two leaders are expected to discuss ways to enhance security cooperation.

Enhancing rail, road and water connectivity and boosting economic engagement will also find priority during the talks and a number of pacts are expected to be signed in these areas.