India firm on Indus Waters Treaty suspension: CR Patil dismisses Pakistan's threats
New Delhi, June 26 (UNI) Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil on Thursday reiterated India's stance on the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), asserting that the decision serves India's national interests while dismissing Pakistan's warnings as baseless threats.
Patil's remarks came in the wake of Bhutto's sharp criticism of India, as tensions between the two countries remain high.
Replying to a reporter's query in this regard at a press conference here held to share the Modi Government's achievements in past eleven years, Patil made it clear that any decision regarding the treaty would be made by the Indian government, under the leadership of the Prime Minister. "There is no update on the status of the treaty. Any decision taken will solely benefit the nation," he asserted during a press conference.
When questioned about the recent comments by former Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Patil responded bluntly: "The water won't go anywhere. His comments are his own concerns. We are not intimidated by hollow threats."
Patil quoted a popular Hindi phrase, "Hum gidar bhabkiyon se nahi darte," which translates to "We are not afraid of the growls of a jackal."
The Modi government had previously responded to a terror attack by suspending its obligations under the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty, which regulates water-sharing across six rivers in the Indus basin.
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