New Dehli . Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that water which ‘belongs’ to India cannot be allowed to flow into Pakistan, Indian Express reported.
“The fields of our farmers must have adequate water. Water that belongs to India cannot be allowed to go to Pakistan… The government will do everything to provide enough water to our farmers,” the Indian PM said at the inauguration of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Bathinda.
Speaking in reference to the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, the hardline Hindu nationalist denied being concerned with politics, even as his statements were termed a bid to woo Punjabi farmers by Indian media.
“We formed a task force on the Indus Waters Treaty to ensure the farmers of Punjab and other states get each drop of water due to them,” Modi said.
The 1960 World Bank-mediated Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan is considered one of the great success stories of water diplomacy, especially as it has survived the India-Pakistan wars of 1965, 1971, 1999 and much bad blood during and after the wars.
Under the treaty, which was signed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and President Ayub Khan in Sept 1960, water of six rivers — Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum — are to be shared between the two countries.
Pakistan has said revocation of the Indus Waters Treaty can be taken as a ‘hostile’ act against Pakistan.
