India: Appeal To All Political Parties To Pass Constitutional Amendment Bill Regarding Indo-Bangla Land-Boundary Agreement

People’s Union for Civil Liberties: Delhi
F-24/72,Ground Floor, Sector 3, Rohini, Delhi 110085

19th April, 2013

APPEAL TO ALL POLITICAL PARTIES TO PASS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT BILL REGARDING
INDO-BANGLA LAND-BOUNDARY AGREEMENT

Thousands of residents of ’Indian enclaves’ in Bangladesh and ’Bangladesh enclaves’ in India at Indo-Bangla borders have been suffering innumerable problems for the last about 65 years. Due to unjust demarcation of border areas, their life has become miserable; they are denied basic citizens rights, have no right to vote, suffer from various health problems, their children not able to avail educational facilities, - in effect they are not leading a normal life.

A delegation consisting of N.D.Pancholi, Arun Majhi and Firdous Islam Choudhury on behalf of PUCL and Chhimahal Mahal Binimay Sangram Samiti (West Bengal) had met Shri Salman Khurshid, the External Affairs Minister on 8th April, 2013 to urge upon him to implement the terms of agreement recently agreed between the two governments. The Minister informed that the proposed constitutional amendment regarding boundary agreement with Bangladesh is ready to be introduced in Parliament but it requires support of majority of total membership of each house which government is trying hard to secure.

If this constitutional amendment Bill is not passed in the present session, an important opportunity will be lost which may not be available for many years to come- given fluctuating political conditions, especially in Bangladesh. The present land-boundary agreement with Bangladesh is, in substance, to the benefits of both sides.

The PUCL & Chhitmahal Mahal Binimay Sangram Samiti (West Bengal) therefore appeal to all the parties in Parliament to ensure passage of the proposed Bill containing Indo-Bangla Land – Boundary Agreement so that plight and misery of the residents of these areas come to an end after sixty-six years and longstanding dispute is amicably resolved.

Ajay Datta & N.D.Pancholi
On behalf of PUCL & Chhitmahal Mahal Binimay Sangram Samiti (West Bengal)
(M) 09748933663 & 09811099532