India deems talking water sharing with Bangladesh a sensitive subject and it feels the issue needs to be addressed fairly.
Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told journalists at South Block office in New Delhi that none of the two neighbouring countries "feels that their interests are being harmed" about water sharing issue, according to a message received in Dhaka.
"It is an issue that touches on the lives and the livelihood of people in ways that few other things touch upon. Hence, it needs to be addressed in a manner that is fair, in a manner that is equitable, and in a manner that none of the parties concerned feel that their interests are being harmed," the spokesperson said.
A press briefing was held after the third Bangladesh-India Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) meet between Bangladesh Foreign Minister Mahmood Ali and Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday.
The Indian External Affairs Minister (MEA) clarified to her Bangladesh counterpart that India requires a political consensus to be worked out and that the process is underway. "We are committed to giving it due attention," the spokesperson remarked.
The MEA made it very clear to Bangladesh that India is aware that this is a matter of priority for Bangladesh.
However, India is hopeful that while that process is underway, the waters of the Teesta flow remain unimpeded.
There was no specific discussion on the sharing of the waters of 54 other common international rivers, which are shared by India and Bangladesh, Akhbaruddin said.
There has been an agreement that the next meeting of the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) will be held at a mutually convenient time. The dates have not yet been fixed but the meeting will take place in Dhaka, and that all the issues pertaining to sharing of waters would be discussed on that occasion.