PM calls Mamata, assures her on Teesta agreement

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tonight called West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and assured her that nothing will be done on the Teesta river water sharing issue with Bangladesh that will harm the interests of the state.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday night called West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and assured her that nothing will be done on the Teesta river water sharing issue with Bangladesh that will harm the interests of the state.

The interests of West Bengal will be kept in mind and consultations with her will continue on the issue, Singh told Banerjee, accroding to a close aide of the Trinamool chief.

Banerjee has opted out of the Prime Minister's two-day visit to Bangladesh starting tomorrow upset over the final draft of the Teesta river water sharing pact which is believed to have earmarked more water for Bangladesh than stipulated in the earlier draft.

While Banerjee has pulled out, chief ministers from Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram-states bordering Bangladesh-will be part of the Prime Minister's delegation.

There are enough indications that the pact would not be inked during the upcoming visit. Top officials said anything agreed between India and Bangladesh would have to be acceptable to West Bengal and consultations in this regard would continue.