Indicating that the Centre was firmly on the path of promoting “cooperative federalism” in order to achieve all-round development Union Home Minister Rajnath on Tuesday said that Delhi would not only expect full cooperation from the States particularly Bengal in inking the Teesta Water Sharing Pact with Bangladesh but also extend “all central assistance” to the State Government to achieve its goals.
Speaking to newsmen in Kolkata at the completion of Narendra Modi Government’s one year in office Singh dwelt on a host of issues from economic growth to defence to foreign policy et al insisting the Centre expected “full cooperation from the Bengal Government” in getting the Teesta pact signed and reminded how a decision had been taken on the land Boundary agreement between the two sides which was stuck for four decades.
His statement came weeks ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit to Dhaka where State Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee could also accompany him. “I assure all assistance from the Central Government to the State for its development” Singh said adding the Government had taken steps for starting a Kolkata-Agartala bus service via Bangladesh soon. On India’s neighbourhood policy Singh said that India wanted cordial relations with all its neighbours but added “befitting” reply had been given to Pakistan when it broke cease fire. “Earlier when Pakistan broke ceasefire we showed white flags now our BSF gave them befitting reply and they had to seek UN intervention.”