We act in India's interest, not worried about world reaction: PM Modi
NEW DELHI: Brushing aside Pakistan's aggressive rhetoric declaring India's decision to put the
on hold, PM
Tuesday said the water, which belonged to the country, would flow in India's favour and be used by India only.
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"Pehle Bharat ke haq ka paani bhi bahar ja raha tha... ab Bharat ka paani Bharat ke haq me bahega, Bharat ke haq mai rukega aur Bharat ke hi kaam aayega (Earlier, even the water belonging to India was flowing out, now India's water will flow for India's benefit, will stay here for India's benefit and will be utilised for India only)," the PM said in his speech at an event organised by ABP Network amid loud applause and slogans of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Modi-Modi'.
His first remarks after New Delhi decided to pause operation of the water treaty under which waters of Indus, Jhelum and Chenab have been earmarked for Pakistan followed stark visuals of dramatic drop in water level of Chenab as a consequence of India starting desilting and flushing of Baglihar and Salal dams.
Significantly, Modi also asserted that his govt believed in taking decisions in the country's interest, unconcerned about how the international community might react.
Though he did not elaborate, the assertion was seen as another sign that the counsel of a few foreign capitals for restraint might not be a determining factor in how the Modi govt responds to the Pakistan-backed terror attack.
"For decades, we had this negative mindset where people would worry before taking a big decision, 'what will the world think, will we get votes or not'? And decisions and big reforms languished due to such considerations," he said.
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The audience's response, like in Modi's earlier public speeches post-Pahalgam, was indicative of the strong desire for retaliation against Pakistan. The crowd started applauding as soon as he said that these days, water had become a hot topic of discussion. "You people are really smart, got it right immediately," an indulgent PM said.
Modi, in keeping with the 'India@2047' theme of the event, focused his speech on development.
He said for decades, the water of our rivers was a subject of tension and conflict, but the govt, in collaboration with state govts, had launched a massive campaign to link rivers. "The Ken-Betwa link project and the Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal link project will benefit millions of farmers," the PM said as he cited several examples to claim that the decisions of his govt were merit-based unlike past govts, which were more considerate about vote bank and their own survival.
The PM said when people looked at country now, they could proudly say "democracy can deliver", and stressed that the govt was moving from a GDP-centric approach to progress based on Gross Empowerment of People (GEP).
Referring to the new waqf law, Modi said the need for reforming the law was being felt for decades, but to satisfy a vote bank, even this noble work was defamed. "Now amendments have been made which in real sense will help poor Muslim mothers and sisters & poor Pasmanda Muslims."
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