New Delhi: On April 8, 1950, then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his Pakistani counterpart Liaquat Ali Khan signed an settlement that framed the rules to safe the rights of minorities in each nations.
The want for the Delhi Pact or the Nehru-Liaquat Pact arose as communal rigidity was peaking, particularly in elements of East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh).
Months earlier, within the December of 1949, India and Pakistan had severed financial ties, which soured the post-Partition relations between the 2 neighbours even additional.
Under the Nehru-Liaquat Pact, refugees have been allowed to return to eliminate their property, kidnapped girls and looted property have been to be returned, pressured conversions have been to be unrecognised, and minority rights have been to be confirmed.
An estimated 1 million folks — Hindus from East Pakistan and Muslims from West Bengal — crossed the borders in 1950.
Provisions Of Nehru-Liaquat Agreement
The opening of the settlement learn: “The Governments of India and Pakistan solemnly agree that each shall ensure, to the minorities throughout its territory, complete equality of citizenship, irrespective of religion, a full sense of security in respect of life, culture, property and personal honour, freedom of movement within each country and freedom of occupation, speech and worship, subject to law and morality. Members of the minorities shall have equal opportunity with members of the majority community to participate in the public life of their country, hold political or other offices, and to serve in their country’s civil and armed forces. Both Governments declare these rights to be fundamental and undertake to enforce them effectively.”
The settlement made a particular word that the PMs of each India and Pakistan acknowledged the assure of minority rights with the constitutional provisions in every nation.
5 Major Points From The Delhi Pact
“Members of the minorities shall have equal alternative with members of the bulk group to take part within the public lifetime of their nation, to carry political or different workplaces, and to serve of their nation’s civil and armed forces.”
“Both Governments declare these rights to be basic and undertake to implement them successfully.”
“The Prime Minister of India has drawn consideration to the truth that these rights are assured to all minorities in India by its Constitution.”
“The Prime Minister of Pakistan has pointed out that similar provision exists in the Objectives Resolution adopted by the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.”
“Both Governments wish to emphasise that the allegiance and loyalty of the minorities are to the State of which they are citizens and that it is to the Government of their own State that they should look for the redress of their grievances.”
Recent Reference Of Nehru-Liaquat Agreement
Union Home Minister Amit Shah whereas introducing the Citizenship Amendment Bill in Parliament in 2019 included references to the Nehru-Liaquat pact. During his speech in parliament, Amit Shah mentioned that following the signing of the Nehru-Liaquat Pact, India protected its minorities whereas Pakistan failed to take action.
Read the complete Nehru-Liaquat Agreement right here:
