Happy that West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee is in Bangladesh today, says Suresh Prabhu

KOLKATA: Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu today said he was happy that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is now in Dhaka on the occasion of signing of the Land Boundary Agreement.

"I am happy that the West Bengal Chief Minister is in Dhaka today. This shows the paradigm shift in foreign policy, which is taking place now by taking the states on board," Prabhu said at a press conference here.

Banerjee, who went to Dhaka yesterday, would be a witness to the signing of the historic agreement where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina would be present.

Stating that Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan were neighbours of India, the Railway Minister said "So when an agreement is being signed with Bangladesh, it is important that the West Bengal Chief Minister be also present."

Earlier today Prabhu said at a railway event that he called up Banerjee this morning and spoke to her.

"Told her that I will be coming soon to meet her and talk about railway projects in the state", he added.

Earlier this month, Parliament had passed a historic constitution amendment bill seeking to settle India's 41-year- old border issue with Bangladesh. The bill paved way for operationalisation of the 1974 India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) that provides for exchange of 161 enclaves between the two countries.