This is an archive article published on November 15, 2024
Omar says 1960 water treaty with Pakistan is unfair to J&K, accused of ‘parroting’ BJP narrative
While political opponents accused Omar of “parroting” the BJP’s narrative on the treaty, his National Conference party hit back, saying he did not call for a revocation of the treaty and was only seeking compensation for the losses suffered by J&K.
3 min readSrinagarUpdated: Nov 15, 2024 10:49 PM IST
According to a senior functionary of the ABABEEL who did not want to be named, Padder was tasked with arranging blood for patients during medical emergencies.
A political slugfest was set off after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan was unfair on Jammu and Kashmir and that it was the reason for electricity problems in the region.
While political opponents accused Omar of “parroting” the BJP’s narrative on the treaty, his National Conference party hit back, saying he did not call for a revocation of the treaty and was only seeking compensation for the losses suffered by J&K.
Speaking at a conference of Power ministers of states and Union Territories, Omar said the treaty “restricts Jammu and Kashmir from realising its full hydel potential”. He said J&K pays a heavy price due to the treaty in peak winter months, when power generation slows down.
The Indus Water Treaty was signed in 1960 by then-PM Jawaharlal Nehru and the then-Pakistan president Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan. Under the treaty’s provisions, while India was granted unrestricted access to the water from the ‘Eastern Rivers’ — the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi — Pakistan retained rights to the water from the ‘Western Rivers,’ including the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.
Criticising Omar’s comments, Peoples Conference president Sajad Lone said in a post on X that criticism of the Indus Water Treaty was “music to (the) ears of the ruling party at the Centre”.
“Typical right-wing gibberish. And a recently elected CM is bending backwards to please the ruling party at the Centre,” Lone said.
He also said that despite the treaty, there are enough water resources in J&K that can be harnessed to generate hydropower. “We have not harnessed even 20 per cent of our potential,” he said.
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PDP chief and former CM Mehbooba Mufti said the treaty has survived wars and mutual strains in relations between India and Pakistan. She said the J&K government should seek more power from the Centre instead of trying to strain relations between the two countries.
“When Farooq (Abdullah, NC president) was CM, he handed over seven projects to NHPC. As per recommendations of the Rangarajan committee, we should have two power projects returned to us. We are the only state that produces electricity and stays in the dark. Instead of straining relations between the two countries, we should negotiate for more power for us. We should not rake up issues that are already settled between the two nations, because then we are towing the BJP line,” she said.
Hitting back at the criticism, Omar’s adviser Nasir Aslam Wani said, “Omar didn’t say anything new. We have been saying that we should be compensated for IWT, whether it is through extra power or by giving us power projects, because we only have these hydropower resources.” He said that Omar never asked for the agreement to be broken.
Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter.
Expertise and Experience
Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development.
Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor.
Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans:
Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance.
Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population.
Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley.
Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More
