Amritsar: Welcoming the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said the agreement had caused long-term harm to the region and limited its rightful use of water resources.
Addressing a press conference here, CM Omar, according to the Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said he had opposed the IWT from the very beginning. “The Indus Water Treaty has greatly harmed us. It is good that it has been suspended. Now measures must be taken so that we can use that water for ourselves,” he said.
Pertinently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government suspended the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan in April 2025 after the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 persons, mostly tourists, dead.
The Chief Minister said the J&K government has already proposed two major projects to the Centre to utilise river waters effectively. One of them is the Tulbul Navigation Barrage, also known as the Jhelum Navigation Barrage. “With this project, the water level in Wular Lake will increase, which in turn will improve water flow in the Jhelum. This will enhance electricity generation and also make the river navigable,” he said.
He added that utilising Chenab River water for Jammu would end water scarcity in the region for the next 30 years. “Suspension of the IWT will also allow us to desilt our rivers, which was not possible earlier,” he said.
Omar Abdullah said Jammu and Kashmir had paid a heavy price under the treaty, while Punjab received rights over rivers flowing through its territory. “We faced the brunt of dams constructed in Punjab. Several areas in J&K were submerged, yet we never complained and maintained cordial relations with Punjab,” he said.
On the political changes after the abrogation of Article 370, the Chief Minister said while change had taken place, the claims made earlier had not been fulfilled. “We were told that removing Article 370 would end terrorism, unemployment and violence. All these claims proved to be a hoax,” he said.
Referring to the security situation, Omar Abdullah said last year began with the Pahalgam tourist attack and ended with blasts in Delhi. “This clearly shows the difference between what was promised and what is actually happening,” he said.
He said the government made sincere efforts to revive tourism after the Pahalgam attack but ensured that the tragedy was not measured in financial terms. “Precious human lives were lost. Tourism figures should not be exaggerated, as it can turn tourists into targets,” he added, while noting that recent snowfall has improved tourist footfall.
RENAMING MGNREGA WRONG MOVE
Criticising the Centre, Omar Abdullah said renaming MGNREGA was wrong as Mahatma Gandhi’s name was removed, and accused the Centre of shifting the financial burden of the scheme onto states.
On the Chattisinghpora killings of Sikhs, he said the CBI probe had identified the perpetrators, some of whom have died, while efforts are ongoing to bring the remaining accused to justice.
IF THEY WANT TO RUIN JAMMU, THEY ARE FREE TO GIVE IT STATEHOOD STATUS
Asked about speculations that Jammu may be granted separate statehood, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that Ladakh had already been “ruined” after being given Union Territory status and warned against repeating the same experiment. “If they want to ruin Jammu, they are free to do so,” he said.
He remarked that even the establishment of a single medical college was not tolerated. “If this is the approach, what will they do with Jammu?” he asked.
CM Omar said Jammu’s economy had largely depended on the Darbar Move and it too was also done away with but the regime led by him restored it.
“In other parts of the country, people struggle to get medical colleges, but here sweets are distributed as if something extraordinary has been achieved,” he said, adding that if the intention is to create a separate state, “they should go ahead and ruin it completely.”
He also acknowledged the drug problem in J&K, saying it exists and the government is fighting it firmly. “We share borders with the neighbouring country and every possible effort is being put to ensure that drugs don’t enter J&K. The government is also working hard to end drug abuse in the region.”
Asked about minorities being targeted in Bangladesh, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that it is the responsibility of every nation to protect its minorities. “While lessons are being offered to Bangladesh, the same principles must be implemented at home as well. Here, if minorities get admission in a medical college, the college itself is shut down,” he said. (KNO)
