Indus Waters Treaty gave Pakistan 80% of water: Modi attacks Nehru during Pahalgam debate in Parliament

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the Congress in the Lok Sabha, accusing them of compromising India’s national interest through the Indus Waters Treaty signed in 1960.

Referring to the ongoing debate over the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and the military response under Operation Sindoor, Modi said: “The Indus Waters Treaty gave Pakistan 80% of the water. What kind of diplomacy is this? Pledging India’s interests is Congress’ habit.”

The Prime Minister questioned why India had agreed to such terms, alleging a pattern of diplomatic weakness under Congress rule.

Concerns for farmers and lost opportunities

“Nehru agreed to Pakistan’s demand that India would not clean or desilt the waste that comes into the dam built on the Indian side,” Modi said in Parliament. He added that Nehru’s diplomacy ignored the interests of Indian farmers.

“Without the Indus Waters Treaty, western India would have had major projects, farmers would get water, drinking water issues would ease, and India could produce more electricity,” the Prime Minister said.

Modi also recalled Nehru’s 1961 statement that the treaty might help resolve broader disputes, saying: “But we remain stuck.”

Treaty suspended after Pahalgam attack

Following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, Modi said India placed the Indus Waters Treaty “into abeyance”. The government has clarified it will not restore the treaty, and the water that previously flowed to Pakistan will now be diverted for domestic use.

“Congress must answer who let PoK go”

Responding to claims that Operation Sindoor was halted under pressure, Modi said the Congress should first explain who allowed Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to be lost.

“Before asking why PoK has not been taken back yet, Congress must respond — who let it go,” the Prime Minister said.

He added: “Then Congress governments lost opportunities to get back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir when India had Pakistan’s land and soldiers in custody.”

“Congress operates through Pakistan remote”

Modi accused the Congress of undermining national unity after the Pahalgam attack, saying: “India got support from the entire world, but it is unfortunate that the Congress did not support the valour of our soldiers.”

“Congress now operates through the remote control of Pakistan and makes young leaders call Operation Sindoor a ‘tamasha’,” he told the House. He also criticised the party for questioning the timing of Operation Mahadev, which he said eliminated the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack.

Shah on Nehru and Congress

Earlier, Home Minister Amit Shah said Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is the result of a “blunder” by the Congress. He said: “All roots of terrorism lead back to Pakistan. And Pakistan itself is the result of the Congress party’s blunder.”

Referring to the 1948 ceasefire, Shah said: “In 1948, our armed forces were at a decisive stage in Kashmir. Sardar Patel kept saying no, but Nehru announced a unilateral ceasefire.”

He added: “If Pakistan-occupied Kashmir exists today, it is due to this unilateral ceasefire announced by Nehru.”

Both leaders criticised Nehru for signing the Indus Waters Treaty, with Modi labelling it a “big blunder”. “Successive governments did not correct Nehru’s mistake of the Indus Water Treaty, but we made it clear that blood and water cannot flow together,” Modi said.