India on Wednesday hoped that Bangladesh would not draw any "adverse inference" from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's recent controversial remarks about the country, as External Affairs Minister S M Krishna arrived in Dhaka on a three-day official visit.
"I hope no adverse inference will be drawn by the Bangladesh government from the prime minister's remarks," Krishna told journalists accompanying him.
His response came when asked whether Dr Singh's remarks that 25 per cent people of Bangladesh were anti-India could have any adverse impact on bilateral ties.
Dr Singh's remarks were intended to be "off the record" but figured in the official transcript of his interaction with editors in New Delhi. The remarks were later deleted.
Asked if India and Bangladesh are ready to leave the controversy behind and move on, Krishna sought to play down the incident saying, "I would not say a controversy has been created by the prime minister".
"The very fact that the prime minister spoke to his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina is indicative of the fact that our prime minister is in favour of strong India-Bangladesh relations," he said, adding, "The prime minister has been a champion of India-Bangladesh relations".
He said a clarification was issued by the external affairs ministry. The "India- Bangladesh relationship is very close to the prime minister's heart", he said.
Describing India and Bangladesh as "natural allies", Krishna said his visit would "further strengthen the friendship between the two countries".
Continuing his charm offensive, Krishna said, "India attaches the highest importance to our relations with Bangladesh, a close and friendly neighbour. We are impressed with the tremendous growth and development in your beautiful country. We believe that a prosperous, stable and democratic Bangladesh is in the interest of both the countries and the entire region".
He said, "Through a forward-looking, progressive and pragmatic approach based on understanding and cooperation, we can achieve a mutually rewarding relationship that brings a brighter future, prosperity and development to the people of both countries".
The primary focus of Krishna's visit will be to contain the damaging fall-out of the prime minister's remarks about Bangladeshis.
During his three-day stay in Dhaka when he will meet the top leadership of Bangladesh, Krishna is sure to confront questions about Dr Singh's remarks.
To a question about the extradition of more leaders of the United Liberation Front of Asom, Krishna said India has received "excellent security cooperation" from the government of Bangladesh and "we have been assured that the territory of Bangladesh will not be used by anti-India elements".
"The government of Bangladesh has been extremely helpful in getting the insurgent leaders," he added.
Asked about a solution to the Teesta River water-sharing and boundary issues, Krishna said, "Given the goodwill on both sides, I'm extremely optimistic that the two issues would be sorted out and I am confident that an acceptable and amicable solution will be worked out".
Later, while reading out from a prepared arrival statement before the media at Dhaka airport, Krishna said relations "are passing though the best phase in recent times with a number of new and forward looking initiatives taken by the leadership of two countries following the visit of Sheikh Hasina to India in January 2010".
Krishna said India and Bangladesh "remain steadfast in their efforts the combat the scourge of terrorism."
As a special gesture, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni received Krishna at the airport and the visiting leader "appreciated the action".