Asom Gana Parishad, Trinamool scuttle India-Bangladesh land boundary bill introduction

NEW DELHI: Asom Gana Parishad and Trinamool Congress on Monday scuttled a move in Rajya Sabha for introduction of a bill which provides for exchange of territories with Bangladesh.

As soon as External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid rose to introduce Constitution (119th Amendment) Bill, 2013, Birendra Prasad Baishya (AGP) trooped into the Well holding two placards. He was supported by Trinamool members.

They created uproar opposing the Bill which is intended to give effect to the acquiring of territories by India and transfer of certain territories to Bangladesh in pursuance of the agreement and its protocol entered into between the governments of the two countries.

Because of the din, Khurshid could not move the bill for introduction and Deputy Chairman P J Kurien adjourned the house for 10 minutes at 2 PM.

After the House reassembled, Kurien said the bill would be taken up sometime later and wanted to take up another listed business.

However, this could not break the ice with Trinamool members joining Baishya in the Well. BJP members also objected to the introduction of the bill.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla stood up and said, "The Bill has been deferred".

In the bill, the government has argued that the First Schedule of the Constitution needs to be amended to give effect to an agreement of 1974 and its protocol entered between the governments of the two countries.

The agreement, signed on May 16, 1974, to settle disputes over demarcation of India-Bangladesh boundary at various places, could not be ratified so far. India and Bangladesh have a common boundary of 4,096.7 km.