Teesta deal will ensure interests of all: Mamata

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KOLKATA, Nov 17 (bdnews24.com): Chief Minister (CM) of Pashchi-mbanga Mamata Banerjee has said interests of Bangladesh and her state will be safeguarded in signing the Teesta water-sharing agreement. "I'll be happy to give Bangladesh water. But we have some problems, too. Teesta doesn't have much water most of the year. I saw that myself," the chief minister said. She added that she will do as far as she can to see to it that people in the northern part of her state get water and Bangladesh's problems are addressed. The Pashchimbanga CM was briefing the media after a meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni Wednesday. Dr Dipu Moni met Mamata in Kolkata on her way back to Dhaka. She said Paschimbangla role in this connection was discussed with Mamata. "But, what the governments of India and Pashchimbanga will talk about is their private matter. I'll not comment on the issue," she added. The Teesta water-sharing agreement between Dhaka and Delhi ran into troubled waters after Mamata backed out of a visit to Dhaka with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in early September. Dhaka has been trying to pacify Mamata who is said to be upset with the final draft of pact that was to be signed during the high-profile Dhaka visit. After she decided to walk out of the visit, which eventually turned the tour into a diplomatic embarrassment for the Manmohan administration, Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai made it clear that no agreement will be signed without the state's consent.