In the light of Pulwama’s recent attack, India leaves no stone unturned in its effort to pressure Pakistan to renounce its assistance to terrorists. After taking several measures, such as withdrawing Most Favored Nation status and imposing a 200% customs duty on all imports from Pakistan, now Minister of the Union for Water Resources, Nitin Gadkari has claimed that India will use the waters of the three rivers that have been assigned to it according to the Indus Water Treaty, whose waters have so far been generously allowed to flow to Pakistan. Gadkari said the diverted water will help nourish the Yamuna River.
Addressing a rally in Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh, Gadkari reported that a project is being designed to divert water from 3 rivers that flow into Pakistan towards Yamuna. If successful, the project would stifle Pakistan’s water supply, which is already teetering under water shortages. According to the Indus Water Treaty, India and Pakistan were assigned waters of 3 rivers each. However, India had been magnanimous in generously allowing the waters of the 3 rivers that were assigned to flow to Pakistan.
Gadkari also added that a project is being conceptualized to connect the three rivers and the possibilities of transport in these water channels are being explored. “The water that belongs to us legitimately was flowing to Pakistan. The water of these three rivers belonged to India. Now we are conceptualizing a project to divert the waters of these three rivers to the Yamuna. There will be enough water in Yamuna, “Gadkari said as he laid the foundations for several water projects in Uttar Pradesh.
The Indus Water Treaty, signed in 1960, divides the water available in the Indus River System between India and Pakistan. The treaty grants the Beas, Ravi and Sutlej rivers to India, while the Indo, Chenab and Jhelum rivers are delivered to Pakistan. Therefore, this movement for India will be in accordance with the treaty. The amount of water transported by the three rivers allocated to Pakistan is already more than double the water transported by the three rivers given to India.
After the Pulwama attack, Prime Minister Modi presided over a CCS meeting with senior security officials and his cabinet. The meeting concluded by offering the Armed Forces a free rein to demand revenge in the place and time of their election. He also agreed to mount an insurmountable diplomatic offense by speaking to representatives of 25 countries, to the ambassadors of the Arab nations and withdrawing the status of Most Preferred Nation (MFN) of Pakistan.
