Srinagar, Aug 15: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday once again batted for the continued Indus Waters Treaty suspension, arguing that Jammu and Kashmir had paid a price for decades under restrictions on the use of its water resources. His remarks came alongside President Droupadi Murmu describing the treaty’s suspension as a “decisive step” in the national interest, particularly for farmers in her Independence Day-eve address to the nation.

Abdullah was responding to questions about Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent remarks on the treaty. Sharif described water as Pakistan’s “red line” and warned of a “direct response” if Pakistan’s water supplies were threatened.

“We have always been saying that our blood has been sucked — these are our rivers. We had the first right on this. Pakistanis say they are great sympathisers of Kashmiris. But when it comes to water, their sympathy disappears. Where was their sympathy when we were denied permission to use our rivers?” Abdullah said.

The Chief Minister’s argument centres on the way the 1960 treaty divided the waters of the Indus river system. Under the agreement, India received unrestricted use of the eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas and Sutlej — while Pakistan was allocated the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. India retained certain rights to use the western rivers, including for domestic use, agriculture and hydropower, subject to treaty conditions.

Abdullah said Jammu and Kashmir had borne the consequences of those restrictions for decades.
“From then until today, we are suffering the consequences of this Indus Waters Treaty,” Abdullah said, adding that the restrictions had affected the region’s ability to fully utilise its water resources.
He cited the inability to draw drinking water from the Chenab and restrictions surrounding projects on the Jhelum as examples.

“From then until today, we are suffering the consequences of this Indus Waters Treaty. We could neither draw drinking water from the Chenab, nor could we use the Jhelum for navigation by building a barrage on Tulbul, nor could we stop water by building a big dam on any of our rivers,” he said.

The issue of Tulbul is particularly significant in Jammu and Kashmir. The proposed project, also known as the Wular Barrage, was conceived to regulate water levels in Wular Lake and improve navigation on the Jhelum. Work on the project was suspended in 1987 following objections from Pakistan. India has maintained that the project, as proposed, falls within the rights available to it under the treaty.

Abdullah had also raised the issue in 2025, after India placed the treaty in abeyance following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack. At the time, he urged the Centre to clear the Tulbul Navigation Project as well as the Chenab Water Lift Scheme, which he said could address drinking-water requirements in parts of Jammu.

The Chenab proposal envisages lifting water from the river to supply areas facing water shortages. Abdullah has argued that the river could meet the drinking-water requirements of parts of the Jammu region for decades.

The treaty itself was signed in 1960 after negotiations between India and Pakistan, with the World Bank playing a role in facilitating the agreement. For more than six decades, it provided a framework for the allocation and use of the Indus river system and established mechanisms for resolving differences between the two countries.

India placed the treaty in abeyance after the Pahalgam terror attack, with New Delhi linking the decision to Pakistan’s support for cross-border terrorism.

Abdullah has now argued that the arrangement should not simply be restored in its earlier form.
“Our blood has been sucked, and now that the Indus Waters Treaty has been cancelled, it should remain cancelled so that we can make proper use of this water,” the Chief Minister asserted.

The position puts Abdullah’s argument about Jammu and Kashmir’s water interests alongside the Centre’s broader national-security justification for keeping the treaty in abeyance.

President Murmu described the suspension as a “decisive step” in the national interest, particularly for farmers.

“Suspension of the IWT with the country that harbours terrorism is a decisive step in the interest of our nation, especially the farmers,” Murmu said.

Her remarks linked the treaty decision to the government’s wider response to terrorism, including references to Operation Sindoor.

Srinagar, Aug 15: Leader of Opposition in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Sunil Sharma on Saturday said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s Independence Day speech was “irresponsible” and it was “unfortunate” that he wants to create an atmosphere of confusion in the Valley.

He also said it was after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 that the federal structure was strengthened in Kashmir.

Referring to the chief minister’s speech at the 80th Independence Day celebration at Bakshi Stadium here, Sharma told PTI Videos, “The chief minister’s speech was a bit regrettable. I would say this was an unfortunate and irresponsible speech because this is not a political stage. From this stage, there should be a speech for the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country, a tribute to the soldiers, a tribute to the martyrs, and especially for the pride and honour of the Tricolour.”

He said Abdullah should have talked about his government’s performance or its future planning, but those were “totally missing”.

Sharma, the BJP MLA from Padder-Nagseni constituency in Jammu region, alleged that Abdullah wanted to raise questions on the strength of the country’s federal structure.

“I would like to tell the chief minister that it was after August 5, 2019, that this federal structure was strengthened. That is the reason why today every Kashmiri is humming Vande Mataram,” the LoP said, adding that the chief minister’s speech raises the question about what he wants to convey by “misusing this stage”.

“I am very hurt by this because today the people, especially the unemployed youth, had hoped that he would say something big for them and for all sections,” Sharma added.

Referring to Abdullah raising constitutional guarantees revoked by the Centre in 2019, Sharma said the chief minister wanted to create an atmosphere of confusion in Kashmir.

“Parliament, the biggest temple (of democracy), abrogated Article 370. The Supreme Court declared it legitimate. Now, what does he (Abdullah) want to show from this stage? He wants to create an atmosphere of confusion in Kashmir again, which is unfortunate,” the BJP leader said.

Sharma, however, welcomed Abdullah’s remark on the accession.

“The whole of India accepts that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of them. People here are a strength, a power of this country. Not just here, but also those people across (the Line of Control) under illegal occupation. We consider them also an integral part of us, and deem them our companions,” the LoP said.

In his speech, the chief minister had referred to the protests in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and said the situation vindicated the decision of National Conference founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah and his colleagues to fight the Pakistan-backed tribal invaders in 1947.

Congratulating the people on the 80th Independence Day, Sharma said this is the moment when one remembered those who willingly sacrificed their lives for the country’s freedom — icons such as Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad and Subhas Chandra Bose.

He further said the day (Saturday) will be written in golden letters in the history of Kashmir as the national song Vande Mataram was sung at Bakshi Stadium.

“Today, Vande Mataram was hummed in this historic ground of Bakshi Stadium. Everyone stood in respect and hummed it. I think this happened for the first time in the history of Kashmir. This is very good; I congratulate all the residents of Jammu and Kashmir for this. This is also a tribute to those young people who sacrificed their lives and shed their blood for our protection here,” he said.

Asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking the support of all opposition parties over women’s reservation, Sharma said it was essential for the 2029 elections.

“It will keep women at the forefront in every field. Women’s reservation is essential to the politics of India, to our legislative system,” he said.

“When the prime minister put a proposal before all the opposition parties to amend the Constitution this time, his sole objective was that women should be empowered,” the LoP said.

To a question on Kashmiri Pandit employees receiving terror threat letters, Sharma said India is fighting an indirect, undeclared war with a country, and hence such efforts from across the border continue.

“I believe the Indian government and security forces have brought about a significant change, from a security perspective. However, that country (Pakistan) is also continuously trying, especially to target the Kashmiri Pandits, because that community is today claiming their properties here, claiming jobs here, and making efforts to resettle here,” Sharma said.

He said terror organisations and Pakistan are “flustered” by the change.

“Their elements, still present here in the form of a structure and framework, are trying. But they will fail, given the anti-terrorism policy of the Indian government and the home ministry,” he asserted.

Srinagar, Aug 15: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday called on the BJP-led government at the Centre to reflect on whether India truly embodies the principles outlined in the Constitution.

“The BJP government at the Centre should think if, after 80 years, we have realised the dream of India as envisioned in the Constitution,” Mehbooba told reporters after attending the Independence Day function at Bakshi Stadium here.

Her comments came in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s request for all political parties to support the implementation of women’s reservation in Parliament and state assemblies without turning it into a political battle.

The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister emphasised that a women’s reservation bill was already passed by Parliament in 2023, stating, “The (women’s) reservation bill has been passed; it simply needs to be implemented.”

Mehbooba added that the country’s founding fathers envisioned an India where individuals have the freedom to choose their attire and food.

“The Constitution given by B R Ambedkar in consultation with Congress leaders of the time envisions no discrimination based on caste, creed or colour. It also provides for justice for all,” she said.