India proposes to deal with the 'sensitive' issue of illegal migrants with Bangladesh through discussion, as its external affairs minister believes the stage is set for a qualitative change in Dhaka-Delhi ties after her visit.
Sushma Swaraj, who left Dhaka on Friday at the end of an 'extremely satisfying and fulfilling' visit, also suggests involving all stakeholders for a careful handling of the issue.
"The illegal migrants issue is a sensitive subject in any country and needs careful handling," she has told bdnews24.com in a written interview.
Her Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his election campaign had threatened to crack down on what he described as 'illegal migrants from Bangladesh', especially when he campaigned in West Bengal and the states of the northeast.
That has stoked fears that there will be attempts to push back such people again as it had happened during the previous BJP-led India government in the late 1990s.
On assuming power, however, Modi has sent positive signals that he is keen to push ahead with deals like Teesta water-sharing that could not be concluded during the Congress-led UPA government.
He sent his External Affairs Minister Swaraj to Dhaka on her first stand-alone visit to any country, which the ministry spokesperson said was a 'conscious decision'.
During her visit, Swaraj said she had come with a message of friendship and goodwill from the newly elected government in India.
"This visit has allowed me an opportunity to exchange views with your senior leadership on the current state of bilateral relations," she said in the interview.
"The discussions that I had with your leadership were extremely cordial and fruitful and could form the basis for the future agenda of cooperation.
"As a result of this visit, both countries have moved forward on a host of issues that would provide impetus to trade, connectivity, power sector cooperation and people to people contacts.
"I think the stage is set for a qualitative transformation in our bilateral relations," she said.
India shares its longest border with Bangladesh and that is why Swaraj said the security issues were interlinked.
This border is mostly porous, and densely populated on both sides, a situation the foreign minister believes allows a lot of illegal activities to take place along these borders.
"We should protect the innocent and the vulnerable from unscrupulous elements," she observed.
"We propose to address this (illegal migrants) issue through discussion and with the involvement of all stake-holders," the veteran politician, who was the Leader of the Opposition in the last parliament, said.
Swaraj emphasised that better border management was a mutual responsibility.
