The Indian National Congress and the Lutyens Media are working in tandem to corner the Modi government as it desperately tries to project how PM Modi’s diplomacy has failed and India stands ‘isolated’. The Indian media tried to spread the narrative that after deteriorating relations with Nepal and China, now even Bhutan is proving to be a thorn for India as the former has now stopped releasing channel water for irrigation along its border with India near Assam. Turns out, it was nothing but fake news, and the water flow was stopped due to natural blockage and in fact, Bhutan is actively helping to remove the blockage so that water flow to India is ensured.
There was a sudden influx of news of how now Bhutan is ‘bullying’ India as it has now stopped releasing channel water to India which will place the lives of thousands of farmer in danger as they heavily rely on the channel water for irrigation.
Times Now ran an article titled, “After China’s allies Pakistan & Nepal, Bhutan hassles India” which read, “Sources in Guwahati said that farmers staged a protest against the blocking of water which flows from a man-made irrigation channel ‘Dong’ for growing paddy. The channel has been used by farmers of Bhutan and India in the region since 1953.”
The article further claimed that, “The withholding of water by the Bhutanese government is affecting people of 25 villages, sources said. Thimpu has said that the flow of the irrigation water has been stopped as part of Bhutan’s efforts to combat the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.”
The article also wrote in detail about Pakistan, Nepal and China are already cornering the Indian government over various different issues.
East Mojo in its article titled, “Now, Bhutan stops irrigation water for farmers bordering Assam” claimed that, “After aggression from China & Nepal, Bhutan stops irrigation canal which was active since 1953 ignoring interest of over 6,000 farmers on Indian side.”
The publication further wrote, “Due to the sudden closure of the irrigation channel without citing any reason, the Bhutan government has created massive resentment in the entire district.”
The Indian National Congress gleefully jumped to take potshots at the Central government as Karnataka Congress also falsely claimed that, “Bhutan stopped irrigation water for farmers” as the state Congress claimed, “There is something seriously wrong with our Foreign policy”.
After-China's border incursion
Nepal's dare to India
Bangladesh,Lanka & Maldives snubbing usNow Bhutan stops irrigation water for farmers which was active since 1953 ignoring interest of 6000 farmers on Indian side
There is something seriously wrong with our Foreign policy
— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) June 25, 2020
The ecosystem’s foot soldiers wasted no time to spread the fake news.
देश में भी फ़ेल और पड़ोस में भी सरेंडर।
अभी भी 56 इंच की छाती वाला प्रचार करने की हिम्मत बाक़ी है??? pic.twitter.com/dtZBcK8pC7— Sadaf Jafar (@sadafjafar) June 26, 2020
China, Nepal now Bhutan.
India has always come across as stronger nation among these countries. Now, they are raising offensive against us.
This means, things have now changed
Is this failed diplomacy?
Will Centre tackle China's larger conspiracy?Issues must be raised. https://t.co/LUeKNpU33E
— deepali desai (@desaideepali) June 26, 2020
#Bhutan stops releasing water to Assam farmers | Greater Kashmir https://t.co/aCsPLWpTNS
— Greater Kashmir (@GreaterKashmir) June 26, 2020
The fact of the matter is that every year Bhutan allows farmers from Assam to cross the border and divert the river water into channels so as to irrigate their fields in Assam. However, due to the pandemic, Bhutan has sealed its borders for all foreigners and even Bhutanese who are entering the country have to undergo mandatory 21 day quarantine and tests before being allowed to resume normal life.
The current monsoon season resulted in sudden rainfall and floods in Thimpu which perhaps led to the blockage of informal irrigation channels. Since Bhutan won’t allow Indian farmers to come fix the blockage, Bhutanese authorities are actively trying to resolve the blockage and ensure water supply to Assam.
Bhutanese Finance Minister took to Facebook to clear the air as he wrote, “(We) have been doing best to ensure the continuous supply of water to our farmer friends of India from Daifam-Udalguri, Samrang-Bhangtar, Motonga-BokaJulee and Samdrupjongkhar town – Patkikulee.” It is important to note that Tshering Namgyel’s post began with “Neighbourhood first” and made it a point to highlight the “close friendship between the people of Bhutan & India”.
Chief Secretary of Assam, Kumar Sanjay Krishna also took to Twitter to bust the fake news.
Recent media reports about Bhutan blocking water supply to India has been incorrectly reported. The actual reason being the natural blockage of informal irrigation channels into Indian fields! Bhutan has been actually helping to clear the blockage. pic.twitter.com/H61c5T1EeJ
— Kumar Sanjay Krishna (@KrSanjayKrishna) June 25, 2020
For those who are falsely speculating that Bhutan blocked some canal water to India.
Due to heavy rains there was natural blockage & Bhutanese officials &ordinary citizen volunteers have been working around the clock to clear it with zero Thanks.
Assam Chief Secretary confirms. https://t.co/0yelzSEi2m
— Tenzing Lamsang (@TenzingLamsang) June 25, 2020
Yet again, the Congress and its ecosystem have worked in cahoots to spread fake news and try to peddle their false narrative that how India is “cornered” in its own backyard due to PM Modi’s diplomacy.
