Mamata Banerjee Upset Over Being Left Out During India-Bangladesh Talks: Sources

Mamata Banerjee is upset because her government's views on critical issues have not been taken into consideration before making the announcements on matters that impact West Bengal significantly

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is upset over being left out of the consultation on key decisions between India and Bangladesh during the neighbouring country's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit, sources have told NDTV. She is upset because her government's views on critical issues have not been taken into consideration before making the announcements on matters that impact West Bengal significantly, sources said.

One of the reasons for this is the Farakka Agreement, which was referred to in the joint statement. The agreement expires in 2026, and both India and Bangladesh have decided to push for its renewal during PM Sheikh Hasina's visit and address the issues related to the prevailing agreement. The Farakka Agreement impacts West Bengal to a large extent, and Mamata Banerjee, sources have said, has expressed her displeasure as the state government's views have not been taken into consideration on such a crucial issue.

PM Modi and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met in New Delhi on Saturday and agreed on the formation of a Joint Technical Committee to begin discussions to renew the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty of 1996. The Farakka Barrage is a critical piece of infrastructure in West Bengal where the Ganges flows into Bangladesh and is instrumental in ensuring that water diverts into the Hooghly River, which is critical for the functioning of the Kolkata Port and meets the water needs of urban settlements along the Hooghly-Bhagirathi river, including Kolkata.