The Modi government wrote to the West Bengal government on July 24, 2023 (last year) and sought the name of their nominee in the committee for carrying out an internal review of the 1996 water treaty with Bangladesh.
The Centre wrote to the West Bengal government on July 24, 2023, and sought their nominee in the committee for carrying out an internal review of the 1996 treaty between India and Bangladesh on water sharing at Farakka.
On August 25 (2023), the Mamata government conveyed the nomination of state's Chief Engineer (Design and Research), Irrigation and Waterways for the committee.
On April 5 this year, the Bengal government's Joint Secretary (Works, Irrigation & Waterways Department) conveyed their total demand for the next 30 years from the stretch of downstream of Farakka Barrage.
Mamata Banerjee has long opposed the water-sharing pact with Bangladesh, blaming the Farakka barrage for erosion, siltation, and floods in Bengal.
In her letter to PM Modi, she said, "People of West Bengal will be the worst sufferers due to the impact of such agreements. I came to understand that Government of India is in the process of renewing the Indo Bangladesh Farakka Treaty (1996) which is to expire in 2026."
"It is a Treaty which delineates the principles of sharing of water between Bangladesh and India and as you are aware it has huge implications for the people of West Bengal for maintaining their livelihood and that the water which is diverted at the Farakka Barrage helps in maintaining the navigability of the Kolkata port."
In the recently held bilateral meeting between PM Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart, Sheikh Hasina, the two leaders discussed the conservation and management of the River Teesta and the renewal of the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty.
According to the pact, India is set to build a large reservoir and related infrastructure to manage and conserve Teesta water.
The Farakka Agreement between Bangladesh and India on sharing of the waters of River Ganga ends in 2026.
Under the treaty, the upper riparian India and lower riparian Bangladesh agreed to share the water of this river at Farakka, a dam on Bhagirathi river around 10 kms from Bangladesh border, says 'India Today'.
Pakistani Defence Minister's admission: 'No religious minority is safe in country'
Speaking in National Assembly, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the attacks on religious minorities is a "matter of concern and embarrassment".
"Minorities are being murdered daily... no religious minority is safe in Pakistan. Even the smaller sects of the Muslims are not safe," Khawaja said during a session of Pakistan's National Assembly.
The coalition government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif tabled a resolution condemning the recent incidents of mob lynching related to blasphemy allegations. Calling the attacks a "matter of concern and embarrassment",
Asif called for a resolution to safeguard minorities. He highlighted that many victims had no connection to blasphemy allegations but were targetted due to personal vendettas.
"We must ensure the safety of our minority brothers and sisters. They have as much right to live in this country as the majority. Pakistan belongs to all Pakistanis, regardless of whether they are Muslim, Christian, Sikh, or of any other faith. Our Constitution guarantees full protection to minorities," Dawn quoted Asif as saying.
However, the government could not table the resolution due to strong protests by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Blasphemy laws in Pakistan are among the strictest in the world and have profound implications for religious minorities in the country. These laws, enshrined in the Pakistan Penal Code, prescribe severe punishments, including the death penalty, for various forms of blasphemy, which includes insults against Islam, the Prophet Muhammad, and desecration of the Quran.
Religious minorities, including Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs are disproportionately accused and convicted under these laws. Even Ahmadis, minority sect among Muslims, face persecution as they are not considered Muslims in Pakistan's Constitution.
On May 25, a Christian man was beaten and his house was set afire by a charged mob in Sargodha city over suspicion of blasphemy.
The persecution is not only limited to blasphemy allegations. Hindus and Sikh minorities, especially in the Sindh region, face social discrimination and girls are often abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, and married off to Muslim men.
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