NEW DELHI. TNN: After months of prolonged confrontation between them over a host of issues, tension between Congress and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee appeared to be de-escalating after her meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday.
The meeting was the first serious engagement between the increasingly estranged allies and marked a thaw in the sliding ties which has left Congress leadership nervy ahead of the crucial budget session.
The Trinamool boss raised a number of issues, and although the 15-minute meeting could not, perhaps predictably, bridge the divide on all contentious issues such as the powers of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, coalition sources seemed happy that the partners were talking after a spell of angry recriminations.
Banerjee raised several issues like NCTC interfering with states' federal powers, to the extra water from Farrakka barrage flowing into Bangladesh with the PM.
Banerjee had sought the meeting on February 11, when she was visiting the Darjeeling hills and found that people were waiting for the GTA to be implemented.
The meeting was held against the backdrop of Congress's anxiety to mollify Banerjee. With the Bengal chief minister raising her ante on a host of issues and with the government not sure of its numbers, Congress leadership was forced to reach out to her. The placatory stance was conveyed by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee who recently showered praise on the Trinamool boss.
Apart from objecting on the NCTC proposal and denying that the Teesta water sharing accord with Bangladesh came up for discussion, Banerjee told reporters that she had raised the "worrisome" issue of the Farrakka barrage gates breaking down and extra water flowing into Bangladesh.
"From June, there has been leakage and instead of 33% water, 88% water has flown into Bangladesh, which means we have serious problems at hand. West Bengal will suffer in terms of electricity generation as well as drinking water supply," she said.
The Bhagirathi and Haldi rivers had gone dry because of the extra water flowing out, Banerjee told the PM and also pointed out that Kolkata port was drying up because of the extra water being lost. Having apprised the PM on the grave situation arising out of it, the CM said she has requested Singh to enquire into the matter. This issue could cause fresh trouble for the Centre in terms of India-Bangladesh bilateral relations, which has already been hurt by the Teesta water treaty not taking off.
Banerjee also complained to the PM about the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), which has been worked out for the Darjeeling hills. "It has not yet been sent to the President for her signature by the home ministry," she told reporters. The GTA cannot be implemented without the Centre and the President finalizing it. "We have done our part, but the Centre is unnecessarily delaying it. Without it, elections cannot be held in the hill areas," Banerjee said.
The meeting was the first serious engagement between the increasingly estranged allies and marked a thaw in the sliding ties which has left Congress leadership nervy ahead of the crucial budget session.
The Trinamool boss raised a number of issues, and although the 15-minute meeting could not, perhaps predictably, bridge the divide on all contentious issues such as the powers of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, coalition sources seemed happy that the partners were talking after a spell of angry recriminations.
Banerjee raised several issues like NCTC interfering with states' federal powers, to the extra water from Farrakka barrage flowing into Bangladesh with the PM.
Banerjee had sought the meeting on February 11, when she was visiting the Darjeeling hills and found that people were waiting for the GTA to be implemented.
The meeting was held against the backdrop of Congress's anxiety to mollify Banerjee. With the Bengal chief minister raising her ante on a host of issues and with the government not sure of its numbers, Congress leadership was forced to reach out to her. The placatory stance was conveyed by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee who recently showered praise on the Trinamool boss.
Apart from objecting on the NCTC proposal and denying that the Teesta water sharing accord with Bangladesh came up for discussion, Banerjee told reporters that she had raised the "worrisome" issue of the Farrakka barrage gates breaking down and extra water flowing into Bangladesh.
"From June, there has been leakage and instead of 33% water, 88% water has flown into Bangladesh, which means we have serious problems at hand. West Bengal will suffer in terms of electricity generation as well as drinking water supply," she said.
The Bhagirathi and Haldi rivers had gone dry because of the extra water flowing out, Banerjee told the PM and also pointed out that Kolkata port was drying up because of the extra water being lost. Having apprised the PM on the grave situation arising out of it, the CM said she has requested Singh to enquire into the matter. This issue could cause fresh trouble for the Centre in terms of India-Bangladesh bilateral relations, which has already been hurt by the Teesta water treaty not taking off.
Banerjee also complained to the PM about the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), which has been worked out for the Darjeeling hills. "It has not yet been sent to the President for her signature by the home ministry," she told reporters. The GTA cannot be implemented without the Centre and the President finalizing it. "We have done our part, but the Centre is unnecessarily delaying it. Without it, elections cannot be held in the hill areas," Banerjee said.
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