Indian Media: Hasina's Delhi visit under spotlight

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to India is widely covered by the neighbouring country's media with special focus on the defence deal and Teesta water sharing treaty.

Most of the media outlets yesterday reported that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke the protocol and went to the Delhi airport to receive his Bangladesh counterpart.

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Hasina went to India on a four-day state visit yesterday.

The Hindustan Times writes an editorial headlined “India must go the extra mile for Sheikh Hasina to strengthen ties with Bangladesh.”

Hasina also wrote an article styled “Friendship is a flowing river” where she said India and Bangladesh could achieve many things that were beneficial to the people of both sides.

She added the support and cooperation of the neighbouring and friendly countries had accelerated their goal to earn independence of Bangladesh. “Among those, India played the leading role.”

The Hindustan Times in its editorial says as the next election in Bangladesh will be held in early 2019, Hasina cannot afford to be seen in any way as bowing to India on key issues.

“… it is therefore imperative for India to strengthen the hands of an ally who has adopted a common stance on issues that are crucial for New Delhi, such as terrorism and regional diplomacy.”

It is important for the Bangladeshi premier to send a message to her people that Bangladesh is engaging India on an equal footing, “and in this New Delhi can help by going the extra mile to address her concerns,” the editorial adds.

Both the sides -- India and Bangladesh--should focus on the big picture -- “a stronger, stable and prosperous Bangladesh is in India's long-term interests. Ms Hasina has shown on more than one occasion that she is willing to work towards this same big picture.”

The Hindu writes a report with the headline“Teesta hangs fire as Sheikh Hasina arrives.”

The report says the west Bengal government is not yet fully on board on sharing of the Teesta waters with Bangladesh, while Indian officials said India remained committed to dialogue on the Teesta with Bangladesh.

The Asian Age also writes a report styled “Despite rivalry, Mamata to join Modi, Hasina at lunch.”

The report terms Mamata as a “political foe” of Narendra Modi and says the Hasina-Mamata and Modi meeting “could be awkward as there has been little progress on the contentious Teesta river-water sharing issue.”

The Times of India publishes two reports with the headlines “PM sets protocol aside, receives Bangladesh PM Hasina at airport” and “Why Bangladesh PM Hasina's visit is a big deal”.

The popular news outlet NDTV writes, “PM Narendra Modi Receives Sheikh Hasina As India, Bangladesh Aim To Enhance Ties.”

The report says setting aside the protocol, Modi went to the airport to receive Hasina. It also writes that Modi travelled through normal traffic without any route restrictions.