The Prime Minister’s promise of arranging a land swap deal with Bangladesh (“ >Land swap to ensure Assam security ”, Dec. 1) will surely have been music to the ears for people of Assam. But it should not be forgotten that when former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had forged a similar deal in 2011, the Bharatiya Janata Party had initially opposed it. In fact, the Assam BJP had gone to the extent of declaring a Statewide bandh over the issue last December. It will, therefore, be interesting to see whether the State BJP reacts favourably to Mr. Modi’s announcement. If it does not, we must consider the December bandh as having been a pre-election gambit to criticise the UPA government in front of the Assamese voters.
Nupur Das,
New Delhi
