Srinagar, Jul 19: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s landmark decision to “revoke” the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), calling it a historic correction of a “decades-old blunder” that denied Jammu and Kashmir its rightful share of development and prosperity.
Speaking at a launch function of a monograph ‘Indus Water Treaty-Mirroring the Facts’ authored by Sant Kumar Sharma, here LG Sinha, according to a news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said, “Despite Pakistan bleeding Jammu and Kashmir through cross-border terrorism for over three decades, Indian rivers continued to irrigate Pakistan’s fields due to the one-sided treaty.”
“No previous government had the courage to revoke the IWT. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done what no one imagined. He gave a clear message after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack — terror and talks cannot go together, and blood and water cannot flow together,” he said.
The LG stated that with the termination of the treaty, India has now secured full rights over the waters of the Jhelum and Chenab rivers. “India’s water will now flow within India and benefit Indian citizens. This will allow Jammu and Kashmir to harness its true hydroelectric potential, irrigate barren lands in Jammu, and provide momentum to infrastructure development,” he asserted.
He emphasized that this historic move will bring immense benefits to Jammu and Kashmir, enabling the Union Territory to fully harness its potential. “A new wave of infrastructure development will gain momentum across the region,” he added.
LG Sinha said that India will now focus on building the necessary infrastructure—including power plants, water diversions, and reservoirs—to optimally utilize its water resources for national development.
He said, “Pakistan’s economy is heavily dependent on the Indus Water System. The suspension of the treaty will have a direct impact on the terror-sponsoring country,” LG Sinha said, emphasizing that India will not allow its goodwill to be taken for granted anymore.
RECALLS PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES
Recalling parliamentary debates dating back to the 1960s LG Sinha said, “Nearly 65 years ago, Iqbal Singh, a Congress legislator from Ferozepur, had strongly criticized the government’s appeasement policy towards Pakistan, stating that it had weakened India’s position.”
LG Sinha said that Singh had termed the Indus Water Treaty a significant loss for the people of India. In 1970, another Congress legislator warned that the treaty had already resulted in a financial loss of over Rs 100 crore. “It was widely acknowledged at that point of time that India was more eager than Pakistan to sign the treaty six decades ago. Many described the Indus Water Treaty as a betrayal of the Indian people. An editorial in The Times of India at the time even remarked that by signing the treaty, India had effectively surrendered to Pakistan.”
“The Parliamentarian Ashok Mehta had labelled the IWT as a dangerous and one-sided agreement, cautioning that its negative consequences would become evident over time. Many parliamentarians, cutting across party lines, had opposed the then Prime Minister’s decision to enter into such an unequal arrangement. Even late Atal Bihari Vajpayee had predicted that India would pay a heavy price. The treaty was unfair, one-sided, and restricted J&K’s development,” LG Sinha added.
SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM HAS EVAPORATED
Referring to the Pahalgam terror attack, LG Sinha said that the people of Kashmir had openly condemned the incident, reflecting a changed mindset. “Kashmiris have realized their future lies with India. The support for terrorism has evaporated. Pakistan has only brought destruction to this land. Terrorism is on its last legs,” he said
“For three decades, Pakistan‑sponsored terrorists have shed the blood of countless innocent Kashmiris—Even a FIR was not registered. At Pakistan’s behest, many Kashmiris were brutally murdered. Those who collaborated with Pakistan were given public funerals attended by many, while the families of innocent victims were shunned—even at their last rites. Graves of terrorists were frequently visited and adorned with floral tributes, while those who sided with terrorists often advanced their own careers. A narrative was deliberately crafted: security forces became the aggressors, terrorists the victims—and the innocent Kashmiris who were killed by the terrorists were simply not counted. No one came to the aid of those murdered by terrorists,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
SOME ELEMENTS CONTINUE TO SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OF TRF
LG Sinha warned: “Some elements continue to speak the language of TRF. The police and security forces remain steadfast in their commitment to peace and will take strict legal action against such elements.”
He appealed to every resident of J&K, asserting that it is their solemn duty to build a terror-free and drug-free Union Territory.
He also paid tribute to the Indian Army, Jammu & Kashmir Police, and Central Armed Police Forces, who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the region’s peace and development.
“Over the past 30 years, Pakistan and its terrorist proxies have spilled the blood of Kashmiris,” he declared. “Yet some shamelessly propagate the TRF’s hateful rhetoric—that same TRF which the United States has officially designated as a terrorist organization. We will tighten the noose around anyone who uses this language to incite or disrupt peace. Anyone questioning our nation’s sovereignty and integrity will be dealt with severely.”
He condemned false narratives surrounding infrastructure projects like the Kashmir–mainland railway—labelled by some as steps toward demographic manipulation, cultural invasion, alcoholism, vulgarity, or over tourism. “Stop peddling this language. Enough politics has been played using the dead bodies of our people. Let the new generation breathe free air and live in peace. There is no place here for conflict profiteers,” LG Sinha said.
He expressed his commitment to deliver justice to victims of terrorism. “Victims’ families will receive government jobs, financial support, and their encroached properties will be restored. The perpetrators and sympathizers will be brought to justice.”
LG Sinha warned against those promoting narratives that align with terrorist groups, calling them “conflict profiteers”. “Stop the politics over graves. Let the new generation live in peace and dignity,” he said.
He also saluted the bravery of Indian Army, J&K Police, and CAPFs for their sacrifices in maintaining peace in the region and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a “terror-free and drug-free Jammu and Kashmir.”—(KNO)
