Centre, states should work together as 'Team India'

Reaching out to States, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday said the Centre and states should work together as 'Team India' to solve national problems like they have worked to resolve issues like the Indo-Bangla Land Boundary Agreement.

"If issues with foreign countries can be resolved through the spirit of 'Team India', solving domestic issues will be very easy," he said after inaugurating the modernised IISCO Steel Plant here.

Observing that the bill to give effect to the Indo-Bangla accord was passed unanimously by Parliament, Modi said all political parties and states like West Bengal, Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Tripura worked "shoulder to shoulder with the Centre" to resolve this issue.

Vowing to work with the states to "take India forward", the Prime Minister said it has been a "misfortune" that in the past there have been tensions between states and the Centre.

23 BANGLADESHIS ARRESTED IN TRIPURA

23 Bangladeshis, who were meant to be trafficked to Jammu and Kashmir to work as domestic help, were arrested in Tripura for entering allegedly without valid documents.

Police arrested the 23 Bangladeshis, who had entered Assam from Comilla district, for entering India without passport. Two Indians, including one from Jammu and Kashmir state, were also arrested for helping them in their illegal entry, he said.