Still time to pass bill over land boundary with B'desh: PM

Regretting that the Land Boundary Bill for exchange of territories with Bangladesh could not be passed in the last session of Parliament, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said there was still time to get it through.
"I am myself disappointed that it has taken so long," he said on the Bill which provides for exchange of territories between India and Bangladesh which is delayed because of opposition by some parties like Trinamool Congress.
Singh was talking to mediapersons on board his special aircraft while returning from a visit to the US where he met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of UN General Assembly. The issue of Land Boundary Agreement came up for discussion and Singh assured her of expediting it.

"We still have time. We will try to convince opposition parties who have problems (with the legislation)," Singh said.
His comments came amid the government's intent to take up the bill in the upcoming Winter session of Parliament, which usually is convened in the second half of November.
The bill could not be taken up for consideration in the Monsoon session which ended last month as parties like Trinamool Congress strongly opposed it.
The government is since discussing the matter with Trinamool to persuade the party.
Hasina last week told PTI in New York that the Agreement will be a "win-win" for both the countries and the parties in India which are stalling it should give up their opposition.