New Delhi:
A public spat broke out between Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his predecessor Mehbooba Mufti on social media on Friday over requires revival of the Tulbul Navigation mission after the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
Ms Mufti accused Mr Abdullah of adopting “provocative” measures amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan. Mr Abdullah, nevertheless, alleged that the previous Chief Minister was attempting to attain “low-cost publicity factors” and “please some individuals” in Pakistan by opposing the concept.
The Tulbul Navigation mission – that seeks to rejuvenate the Jhelum-fed Wular lake in Bandipora district – was launched in 1987 however paused in 2007 amid objections from Pakistan that it violated the Indus Waters Treaty. With India suspending the Treaty on April 23, a day after the Pahalgam terror assault, Mr Abdullah on Thursday referred to as for resumption of labor within the mission on Wular Lake.
In a put up on X, the Chief Minister mentioned that because the water pact with Pakistan has been saved in abeyance, “I’m wondering if we will resume the mission”.
“The Wular lake in North Kashmir. The civil works you see within the video is the Tulbul Navigation Barrage. It was began within the early Eighties however needed to be deserted underneath strain from Pakistan citing the Indus Water Treaty,” he wrote on the micro-blogging platform.
The Wular lake in North Kashmir. The civil works you see within the video is the Tulbul Navigation Barrage. It was began within the early Eighties however needed to be deserted underneath strain from Pakistan citing the Indus Water Treaty. Now that the IWT has been “quickly suspended” I… pic.twitter.com/MQbGSXJKvq
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 15, 2025
The Nationwide Convention chief mentioned that if accomplished, the Tulbul mission may also help in utilizing the Jhelum river for navigation functions. “It should give us the benefit of permitting us to make use of the Jhelum for navigation. It should additionally enhance the facility technology of downstream energy tasks, particularly in winter,” he added.
Beneath the Indus Waters Treaty governing six widespread rivers, all of the water of the jap rivers – Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi amounting to round 33 million acre ft (MAF) yearly – has been allotted to India for unrestricted use. The waters of western rivers – Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab – amounting to round 135 MAF yearly have been assigned largely to Pakistan.
Ms Mufti, nevertheless, launched a scathing assault on Mr Abdullah and labelled his name as “irresponsible and dangerously provocative”.
The Chief Minister’s name to revive the Tulbul Navigation Venture amid tensions between India and Pakistan is “deeply unlucky”, she mentioned in a put up on X. “At a time when each international locations have simply stepped again from the brink of a full-fledged conflict – with Jammu and Kashmir bearing the brunt by the lack of harmless lives, widespread destruction and immense struggling – such statements aren’t solely irresponsible but in addition dangerously provocative,” she mentioned.
The Peoples Democratic Occasion (PDP) chief mentioned the individuals of the Union Territory deserve peace as a lot as anybody else within the nation. “Weaponising one thing as important and life-giving as water isn’t solely inhumane but in addition dangers internationalising what ought to stay a bilateral matter,” she mentioned.
J&Ok Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s name to revive the Tulbul Navigation Venture amid ongoing tensions between India & Pakistan is deeply unlucky. At a time when each international locations have simply stepped again from the brink of a full-fledged conflict—with Jammu and Kashmir bearing the brunt… https://t.co/LZrVAhIukQ
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) May 16, 2025
The previous Chief Minister’s feedback evoked a pointy response from Mr Abdullah, who accused her of trying to “please some individuals throughout the border”.
“Really what’s unlucky is that along with your blind lust to attempt to rating low-cost publicity factors and please some individuals sitting throughout the border, you refuse to acknowledge that the IWT has been one of many greatest historic betrayals of the pursuits of the individuals of J&Ok,” he informed his rival.
“I’ve at all times opposed this treaty and I’ll proceed to take action. Opposing a blatantly unfair treaty is by no means, form, dimension or kind warmongering, it is about correcting a historic injustice that denied the individuals of J&Ok the correct to make use of our water for ourselves,” he added.
Really what’s unlucky is that along with your blind lust to attempt to rating low-cost publicity factors & please some individuals sitting throughout the border, you refuse to acknowledge that the IWT has been one of many greatest historic betrayals of the pursuits of the individuals of J&Ok. I’ve… https://t.co/j55YwE2r39
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 16, 2025
Time will reveal who seeks to appease whom, Ms Mufti mentioned in response, because the back-and-forth continued. “Nonetheless, it is value recalling that your esteemed grandfather Sheikh Sahab as soon as advocated for accession to Pakistan for over 20 years after dropping energy. However put up being reinstated as Chief Minister he abruptly reversed his stance by aligning with India,” she mentioned.
Quite the opposite, she added, the PDP has constantly upheld its convictions and commitments, in contrast to the NC whose loyalties have shifted dramatically in accordance with political expediency.
“We needn’t stoke tensions or undertake warmongering rhetoric to validate our dedication. Our actions communicate for themselves,” she mentioned.
Time will reveal who seeks to appease whom. Nonetheless, it is value recalling that your esteemed grandfather Sheikh Sahab as soon as advocated for accession to Pakistan for over 20 years after dropping energy. However put up being reinstated as Chief Minister he abruptly reversed his stance by… https://t.co/2jSBku731K
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) May 16, 2025
Mr Abdullah informed Ms Mufti that she will be able to preserve “advocating the pursuits of anybody you need to & I will preserve advocating for the pursuits of the individuals of J&Ok to make use of our personal rivers for our personal profit”.
“Is that actually the very best you are able to do? Taking low-cost photographs at an individual you your self have referred to as Kashmir’s tallest chief. I will rise above the gutter you need to take this dialog to by maintaining the late Mufti Sahib and ‘North Pole South Pole’ out of this,” he mentioned.
“I am not going to cease the water, simply use extra of it for ourselves. Now I feel I will do some actual work & you possibly can preserve posting,” he added.
Is that actually the very best you are able to do? Taking low-cost photographs at an individual you your self have referred to as Kashmir’s tallest chief. I will rise above the gutter you need to take this dialog to by maintaining the late Mufti Sahib and “North Pole South Pole” out of this. You retain advocating the… https://t.co/R6wGL2o4tL
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 16, 2025
In a separate put up later, the Chief Minister shared a information report from 2016, which quoted Ms Mufti as saying that “Jammu and Kashmir has suffered as a result of Indus Waters Treaty”. “Simply leaving this on the market as a result of “consistency” is in such brief provide,” he mentioned.
Simply leaving this on the market as a result of “consistency” is in such brief provide. pic.twitter.com/jn9x2zAqwS
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 16, 2025
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed on September 19, 1960, units out a mechanism for cooperation and knowledge alternate between India and Pakistan on using the waters of a variety of cross-border rivers. India has been given the correct to generate hydroelectricity by run of the river tasks on the western rivers topic to particular standards for design and operation. Pakistan has the correct to boost objections on the design of Indian hydroelectric tasks on western rivers.
Relations between India and Pakistan, that took a nosedive in 2019 with the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, deteriorated additional after terrorists shot useless 26 vacationers in Pahalgam on April 22. India responded by launching Operation Sindoor, focusing on 9 terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. This escalated bilateral tensions because it led to strikes and counter-strikes between the 2 nations. On Might 10, India and Pakistan reached an settlement to cease all firing and army motion on land, air and sea.
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