BATHINDA – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday once again threatened to cut off Pakistan’s water supply.
Speaking at an inauguration ceremony, Modi who is dubbed a hard liner in India expressed that water belonging to India could not be allowed to enter Pakistan.
‘The fields of our farmers must have adequate water. Water that belongs to India cannot be allowed to go to Pakistan. Government will do everything to give enough water to our farmers’ said PM Modi.
“We formed a task force on Indus water treaty to ensure farmers of Punjab and other states get each drop of water due to them,” he added.
https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/802050153435643904
The premier expressed that he was concerned more about farmers than the arithmetic of elections.
Currently, Pakistan and India grab a share of their water under the 1960’s Indus Waters Treaty that remained effective even under hostile environment during wars of 1965 and 1971.
Under the treaty, which was signed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and President Ayub Khan in Sept 1960, water of six rivers — Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum — are to be shared between the two countries.
However, Indian authorities threatened Pakistan of using water as weapon soon after the relations between the neighbours became frayed after the Uri attack that left 18 soldiers dead.
India blamed Pakistan for the attack but Pakistan categorically gainsaid the allegations in this regard.
The tension simmered once again after India claimed of carrying out a surgical strike inside Pakistan, which Pakistan termed a drama.
Both nuclear-armed neighbours also expelled high commission staffers of each other following the allegations of espionage.
Recently India targetted Passenger bus in Neelum valley that left nine passengers dead. Moreover, three Pakistani soldiers also lost their lives in the attack that irked Pakistan.
