Terming LBA an achievement, Congress scrambles to take credit

The Congress party on Sunday hailed the historic Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) which was exchanged by India and Bangladesh in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka, while taking credit on the initial talks of the accord.

"LBA is definitely an achievement and it is good for both the nations and the Prime Minister has finished, finalised this agreement. That credit goes to him and Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina," the Prime Minister said.

"It was started with Indira Gandhi after the formation of Bangladesh. It is a long pending issue not supported by the BJP whenever the UPA government had taken up this issue," he added.

The Indian Parliament unanimously approved a Constitution amendment bill to give full effect to the Land Boundary Agreement of 1974 with Bangladesh and the related 2011 Protocol.

The agreement aimed at the acquiring of territories by India and the transfer of territories to Bangladesh through retaining of adverse possession in pursuance of the 1974 agreement between the two nations.

Assam, West Bengal, Tripura and Meghalaya all fall under the bill. According to a joint census conducted by both the countries, there are 111 Bangladeshi enclaves in India that houses 37,369 people while 14,215 people have been residing at 55 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh.

The agreement with Bangladesh will mean exchange of a series of enclaves. Assam alone will have to hand over 250 acres.

The exchange of the enclaves would end decades of ambiguity for thousands living on the wrong side of the border.