India, B'desh to approve Teesta water pact soon: Rajnath

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said India and Bangladesh would soon approve Teesta water sharing agreement.
"Both the countries will give their approval to it very soon. We are hopeful that we will get full cooperation from the West Bengal government", Singh said at a press conference here.
The Home Minister's statement came ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Dhaka.
On the Land Boundary Agreement between the two countries, Singh said "The land boundary issue was stuck for 40 years. Now the decision has been taken".
Bangladesh High Commissioner Syed Muazzem Ali had last week hoped that Teesta water sharing pact would be signed during Modi's visit to the country and noted that Indian government has briefed Bangladesh on "internal" discussions the Centre was having with West Bengal government.

Singh also said Kolkata- Agartala bus service via Dhaka would also start soon. The trial runs have already been done.

Stating that India wants cordial relations with all its neighbours, the Union Minister, however said it gave "befitting" reply to Pakistan during ceasefire violations by that country.
"Earlier when Pakistan used to do ceasefire violations, our forces used to show white flags. But now BSF gave them a befitting reply during any ceasefire violations and they had to seek UN intervention," he said.
During his China visit, the Prime Minister had strongly presented India's viewpoint on various outstanding issues between two countries, he added.