Daijiworld Media Network - Srinagar
Srinagar, Aug 14: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday criticised Pakistan for claiming rights over waters from rivers in the Union Territory, saying Islamabad cannot claim to be sympathetic towards Kashmiris while objecting to India's use of its own river waters.
Abdullah was responding to a question about Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's remarks on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), in which he warned that "every drop of water is our red line" and said Pakistan would give a "direct response" if its 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 told reporters.
The J-K chief minister said that of the six rivers covered by the treaty, India retained three associated with Punjab, while the other three were "handed over to Pakistan", leaving Jammu and Kashmir to suffer the consequences.
"From then until today, we are suffering the consequences of this Indus Waters Treaty," he said, adding that Jammu and Kashmir was unable to draw drinking water from the Chenab, use the Jhelum for navigation by constructing a barrage at Tulbul, or store water through large dams on its rivers.
The Indus Waters Treaty was put in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack last year.
"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," Abdullah said.
Abdullah also condemned the attack on Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal in Maharashtra.
"We strongly condemn this, and such attacks should not take place," he said, referring to the earlier attack on Badal in Amritsar and the security assurances that followed.
Abdullah questioned how Badal could be attacked again despite being a high-security protectee. He said Badal was injured in the latest incident and had to be taken to hospital for treatment.
The J-K chief minister said political disagreements or grievances should be addressed through democratic means rather than violence.
"Attacking is very dangerous for democracy," he said, adding that if people have grievances against anyone, they can express them through elections.