Despite rivalry, Mamata to join Modi, Hasina at lunch

With Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina beginning her keenlyawaited four-day visit to India on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited his political foe, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, to an official lunch he is scheduled to host for the Bangladesh Prime Minister on Saturday, an invitation which she has apparently accepted.

The meeting could be awkward as there has been little progress on the contentious Teesta river-water sharing issue. While the Centre is keen on it, Ms Banerjee has been stalling it because of concerns about the impact it will

The meeting could be awkward as there has been little progress on Teesta river-water sharing. While the Centre is keen on it, Ms Banerjee has been stalling it.

have on West Bengal.

Apart from this contentious issue, the two countries are expected to sign at least 25 pacts covering sectors such as defence and civil nuclear energy during Ms Hasina’s visit. India is also set to announce a line of credit of $500 million to Bangladesh for military supplies.

In an indication of the close ties between the two countries, New Delhi is also working on a separate, additional line of credit that could all together work out to a whopping $5 billion (including previous lines of credit announced) although this has not been formalised as yet.

Ms Banerjee will be present at a function on Saturday where the two PMs will unveil road and rail links between the two countries, and it is possible that the three leaders may discuss the Teesta issue.

Progress on the Teesta deal cannot take place unless Ms Banerjee is on board. While Bangladesh is very keen on an agreement on Teesta, Ms Hasina is aware of the political hostility between PM Modi’s BJP and Ms Banerjee’s Trinamul Congress.