Mamata government helping fundamentalists in Bangladesh: Biman Bose

Accusing the Trinamool Congress government of helping fundamentalist forces in Bangladesh, the Left Front Sunday said its stand has resulted in fanatics belonging to both the majority and minority communities becoming more active in West Bengal.

Calling it a conspiracy, Left Front chairman Biman Bose said some people have also been forced to cross over to West Bengal from the neighbouring country as the Teesta river water sharing and enclave exchange issues still remained unresolved.

"The Trinamool is trying to create a communal atmosphere in the state. It is patronising fundamentalist forces. It is helping Jamaat-e-Islami, a fundamentalist force in Bangladesh.

"With such forces becoming very active in Bangladesh, fanatic elements belonging to both the majority and minority communities have become active in our state," Bose said at a Left Front rally at the Brigade Parade grounds here.

Bose, the Communist Party of India-Marxist's state secretary, said Dhaka had tried to ink an agreement with New Delhi on sharing of the Teesta river water and exchange of enclaves.

"Everything had been finalised after detailed deliberations. And (West Bengal) Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was scheduled to accompany Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Dhaka. But she suddenly opted out," he said, alleging that Banerjee refused to go to Dhaka at the prompting of the US.

Refering to then US secretary of state Hillary Clinton's meeting with Banerjee in May 2012, Bose claimed that Washington had earlier sent an emissary with a "directive" to Banerjee not to accompany the prime minister to Dhaka in September 2011.

"They sent an emissary with a directive to Mamata Banerjee that she should not go to Dhaka as otherwise the Sheikh Hasina government would stand to gain while the interests of the fundamentalists would be hit," he said.

Banerjee had opted out arguing that the interests of northern West Bengal would be hampered as the proposed agreement envisaged giving a greater share of Teesta water to Bangladesh than had been agreed upon by the central and state governments. She had also claimed that the final draft was not shown to her.

The decision embarrassed the Indian government, as the water sharing agreement could not be clinched during the prime minister's trip.

The Banerjee government has also opposed any move to hand over to the neighbouring nation 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh in exchange for 51 Bangladeshi enclaves in India, arguing that West Bengal would lose more land than it would get from Bangladesh.

"As the enclave and Teesta water issues have not been resolved, some people are again being forced to cross over afresh from Bangladesh. This is also a conspiracy," added Bose.