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India out of step with neighbours

Tin Bigha should be pursued at highest level: Subramaniam

From Mahfuz Anam
SEOUL. Apr 6 : 'Bangladesh should push for an urgent resolution of the* Tin bigha Land corridor issue at the political level. Left to bureaucratic dispensation, it may take a long time. Subramaniam Swamy. Indian Minister for Commerce. Law and Justice told The Daily Star tn an exclusive interview last week in the South Korean capital, where he had come to address the 47th session of the Economic and Social Commission for the Asia and the Pa Cific.
Professor of Economics at Delhi University with a Ph D from Harvard and a renowned parliamentarian. Subramaniam is known to be a key actor in the current political scene in India.
'India will abide by international law After the ruling by the Indian Supreme Court no other obstacle remains In the way of resolution of the Tin Bigha issue.' However, bureau-
cratic procedures may delay the matter unnecessarily. Subramaniam cautioned. 'Frankly this issue is not the most urgent thing In the minds of the Indian politicians' he admitted. 'Leaders of Bangladesh should urgently push this issue at the political level" the minister advised.
Subramaniam admitted that Indian foreign policy was out of step with the rest of her neighbours as far as SAARC was concerned. He said India still operated on the premise that SAARC countries would use the forum to gang-up against India. Therefore, she does not allow it to become anything more that a discussion chib
'The world had changed since SAARC was formed. Regionalism has found renewed strength and relevance in the new International context. Therefore SAARC must be al lowed to act as a genuine regional block and not as an In formal discussion club." The
main obstacle against SAARC playing its due role "is the mental block that India has about the role of SAARC. the Indian minister said
Welcoming the democratic changes in Bangladesh the Commerce. Law and Justice Minister said India feels very happy at the transition to democracy and restoration of elected government in Bangladesh He fell confident that bilateral issues can be resolved to mutual satisfaction of both. India feels relieved at, the defeat of fundamentalist forces In the India. It will help India fight Its own communal forces, he added.
Emphasising his governments approach to relations with the neighbouring coun tries the minister said the Congress Government believes in 'reciprocity' whereas Janata government believes In 'mutual capacity to accommodate'. That is why relations with the neighbours are at their best when a Janata government Is In power, he said.
Both Bangladesh and India would benefit greatly if they permitted free trade on a selective basis, decided upoq through a mutual discussion of our relative trading strengths. This will reduce the scope of unofficial trade (smuggling) between our two countries and Increase state revenue. ‘Communication between our two countries is of utmost importance in resolving all our outstanding issue", the minister emphasised.
On upcoming Indian elec-•ions Subramaniam said that the Issues of stability of gov ernment-favouring Rajiv Gandhi and that of a clean, mature and honest government — favouring Chandra Shckher — will dominate the coming elections. Others like VP Singh. Advani and the left parties will be In the sidelines. Allaying fears of communal violence In the elections, the minister told the Star that communal forces will be rejected in India as they have been In Bangladesh. ‘Last time BJP got support because of seat adjustment with VP Singh. On their own they will gain very little support.
(See details of the interview. Page 6).