Women personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF) patrol the India-Bangladesh border. (File photograph)
The cabinet today cleared the bill to operationalise the Land Boundary Agreement with Bangladesh. The bill is expected to come up in Rajya Sabha tomorrow. The bill paves the way for land exchange with Bangladesh in four states -- West Bengal, Tripura and Meghalaya and Assam.
Assam, where the inclusion is supposedly an emotive issue for the people, has been brought into the bill's ambit after prolonged efforts by the Narendra Modi government to bring its lawmakers on board.
The agreement with Bangladesh involves the exchange of a series of enclaves and under it, Assam reportedly has to hand over 250-odd acres. The Narendra Modi government has been keen on the exchange, arguing that it will end illegal immigration and is a national security issue.
The Congress had been insistent on the inclusion of Assam - the land bill was signed during the erstwhile UPA government in 2011.
But with the Assembly elections due next year, the local BJP leaders - who are hoping for more seats -- and regional parties like the Asom Gana Parishad, did not wish to be seen as willing to hand over land to the neighbouring country.
The reconciliation took place after a series of behind-the scene meetings with BJP lawmakers from the state, during which the government impressed upon them the security angle.
On Monday, the senior leadership of the BJP and its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh discussed the bill with its Assam leaders.
The meeting -- held at the residence of BJP chief Amit Shah -- was also attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu.
The bill, which will amend the constitution to enable the land exchange, requires a two-thirds majority to be passed in Parliament.