Jaishankar Slams Congress Over Indus Water Treaty
Jaishankar declared that the Indus Water Treaty would remain in abeyance until Pakistan irrevocably gives up its support of terrorism
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday criticised the Congress, saying they are "uncomfortable with history," while speaking about India's decision to put the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack.
Jaishankar highlighted Congress’s "mistakes" in the Rajya Sabha regarding the handling of the treaty while emphasising how essential the agreement was.
"The Indus Water Treaty in many ways is a very unique agreement. I cannot think of any agreement in the world where a country has allowed its major rivers to flow to the next country without having rights on that river," he said.
He added, "To recall the history of this event... Yesterday, I heard some people are uncomfortable with history. They prefer that historical things be forgotten. Maybe it does not suit them, they only like to recall some things."
The EAM targeted Jawaharlal Nehru over his statement in Parliament back in 1960 regarding the treaty.
"On November 30, 1960, he (Jawaharlal Nehru) says, 'I would like to know if this House is to judge the quantum of supply of water or money to be given.' People objected to that. The PM also said, 'Let me do this treaty for the interest of Pakistani Punjab' — not a word about farmers of Kashmir or Punjab. Not a word about Rajasthan or Gujarat," Jaishankar said.
He also added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "corrected" Nehru's "mistakes" when it comes to handling the Indus Water Treaty and Article 370.
"We were told for 60 years that nothing could be done. Pandit Nehru’s mistake can’t be corrected. The Narendra Modi government showed it can be corrected. Article 370 was corrected, and IWT is being corrected."
Jaishankar declared that the Indus Water Treaty would remain in abeyance until Pakistan irrevocably gives up its support of terrorism.
"We have warned that blood and water will not flow together," he said.
The Indus Water Treaty was put in abeyance after the Pahalgam terror attack in April, in which 26 people were killed.
