Mamata trying to string-pull Indo-Bangladesh relations
By Kumkum Chadha
With West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee showing a red rag to the Centre more than once in recent weeks, the possibility of her parting ways with the Congress seems strong. Were that to happen, it could slow down, if not reverse, the progress Manmohan Singh’s government has made in resolving contentious issues with Bangladesh. After all an estranged Mamata with a non-cooperation stance would throw a spanner in the works and negate whatever the Indian Government is trying to achieve.
Given West Bengal’s geographical proximity with Bangladesh, whether it is the issue of sharing water or borders, the consent of the state government is a-given, as it were, for a smooth sail. With Mamata currently in the hot seat, her yes or no will have a bearing on the decisions the Centre takes vis a vis Bangladesh.
Till recently, it was a ‘cry wolf’ phenomenon with Mamata “I will pull out” threats getting shriller sans action. It was then common knowledge that Mamata is trying to flex muscles to extract her pound of flesh without actually intending to part ways.
The Manmohan Singh government, desperate in its need for numbers, cajoled her and bent over backwards to please her in the hope that she would not upset the alliance applecart. Mamata on her part not only enjoyed the attention but managed to get from the Centre funds for the cash strapped state more than what was its due and what the Centre would ordinarily grant.
Till then, Mamata needed the Congress as much as it needed her. Hence, despite the noise, it was crystal clear that Mamata will not do anything to disrupt the present arrangement except ofcourse carry the banner of revolt for public perception.
But of late, Mamata’s tantrums have a political sting. She is now looking outside and wanting to emerge as an architect of what is being perceived as an “east coast coalition” comprising regional parties.
Mamata Banerjee
The coalition, if this happens, could include AIADMK’s Jayalalitha, Andhra Pradesh’s Chandrababu Naidu, and Orissa’s Naveen Patnaik. Both Jayalalitha and Patnaik are currently Chief Minister of the states of Tamil Nadu and Orissa. Naidu is the leader of Opposition in the Andhra Pradesh State Assembly.
The unifying chord is a common enemy i.e. the Congress in their respective states. The alliance, if it happens, will dominate around 128-odd seats in the Lower House of Parliament. The three, along with Mamata, were on the same side rapping the Central Government on the proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre(NCTC).
The Indian Government intends to fight terror in a big way and the proposed Centre aims to counter terrorism. As India’s Home Minister P. Chidambaram would like to see it, the NCTC will be a one-point agency with powers of investigation and operations and will be accountable on all matters relating to internal security.
Intended to be a stronger version of the US model, from where the idea of NCTC is borrowed, the Indian model would have the mandate of operations. In the US, the NCTC does not have powers to direct the execution of counter terrorist operations. It also has no powers to arrest, interrogate, investigate or prosecute. However, for the moment what the Indian Cabinet cleared was a lame-duck version, stripped of Chidambaram’s vision. The NCTC as proposed by the Central Government can neither direct operations nor have any intelligence agencies under it.
Led by their respective Chief Ministers, Mamata included, several states have opposed the NCTC on grounds that it is an assault on federalism. Using NCTC as a tool, the Chief Ministers are also gearing up to jointly take on the Centre on several issues and hence make it difficult for the Government to function. There are already murmurs of a “regional grouping” which will attempt to get on board regional parties to withstand pressures from the Centre. Politically this means an anti Congress regional front.
If Mamata decides to part ways with the Congress, then her game plan would be to oppose every move of the Manmohan Singh led government. This is evident from the fact that even as an alliance partner she has given enough trouble.
Domestic issues apart, she has thought nothing of embarrassing Singh even on commitments with India’s neighbors, chiefly Bangladesh. Last year, she opted out of the delegation accompanying the Prime Minister to Bangladesh. The last minute rebuff came because she was reportedly unhappy over the pact, which India and Bangladesh had agreed to sign on sharing the Teesta waters. Mamata thought that the pact was unfair to her state given that it was based on an equal sharing of Teesta waters. Her contention is that Bangladesh should get only 25 percent of the water. Attempts by India’s National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon to get around Mamata clearly failed.
Mamata is miffed on what she sees as India’s generosity on the Teesta river, which originates in Sikkim and enters Bangladesh through West Bengal.
There are numerous hydroelectric dams and water diversion stations on the Teesta that allows India to divert water.
As part of the broader package, Bangladesh’s intake of the Teesta river will double from 25 per cent to 50 per cent, allowing the two countries to equally share the river.
An enraged Mamata threatened unrest in districts of north Bengal on a 50:50 sharing. She has recently shot off a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh objecting over the Farakka Barrage water sharing with Bangladesh. She wrote that a majority of water from the Farakka barrage is going to Bangladesh instead of remaining in India. Alleging that this is a “conspiracy” to please Bangladesh, she has demanded repairing of the barrage.
Reportedly, two gates of the Barrage were broken which led to a total drainage of 82801 cusecs of water into Bangladesh. The country is supposed to receive 35,000 cusecs of water. Excess water drainage to Bangladesh from Farakka has reduced the water level of Bhagirati in India. The feeder canal, which supplies Bhagirati, should receive at least 40,000 cusecs of water, but presently because of excess drainage, it is receiving only 20,000 cusecs.
In her proposed meeting with Prime Minister Singh slated to happen tomorrow Mamata is expected to raise the Farakka and Teesta pact issues along with a host of domestic issues including the NCTC.
The outcome, while it is keenly awaited, would perhaps signal how much the Indian Government can give to Bangladesh while keeping Mamata in good humour.
Source: The Independent
