Manmohan in damage control mode, calls Bangladesh PM

New Delhi, Jul 5: India landed in trouble after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made controversial remarks on Bangladesh at the editors meet that was held in Delhi.

The staff, Prime Minister's office (PMO) had issued his off record concerns that at least 25 percent of Bangladeshi's hated India.

The Prime Minister also took up the matter with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Jul 4 to clear the air on the controversy adding that he was looking forward to his trip to Bangladesh in Sept.

"Following the official announcement of his visit to Bangladesh on 6-7 September, the Prime Minister called the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina to say how much he was looking forward to the visit and to renewing contacts with his old friends there," said a statement issued by the PMO.

The Prime Minister also sent across his "warm personal greetings to Prime Minister Hasina and through her to the people of Bangladesh," in the statement.

He also said the ties with Bangladesh were "the highest importance to relations" and "a strong and productive partnership between the two countries was in the interest of the two peoples and the people of South Asia as a whole."

The telephonic conversation between the two counterparts showed Singh's efforts to save the ties between both the countries.

Singh also said that both countries have experienced high level exchanges and the visit will intensify the bilateral ties, proving fruitful for both the countries.

"Goodwill existed among the political parties in both countries and was encouraging people to people contacts was a priority in the relationship," said the Prime Minister.

Shaikh Hasina said that people in her country and she was keen to meet Singh adding that there were "high expectations from the visit, which she hoped would be a historic one."

OneIndia News