Today in Politics: After Omar Abdullah touches a raw nerve in Punjab over water sharing, what's next?
Even as the dispute between Punjab and Haryana over water from the Bhakra-Nangal project continues to simmer, another controversy over water sharing is brewing between Punjab and its neighbour to the north, Jammu and Kashmir.
Asked about the proposed construction of a 113-km canal to transfer surplus water from Jammu and Kashmir to Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan to prevent it from flowing to Pakistan, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told reporters on Friday, 'Right now, Jammu is facing water scarcity … There is no water in the taps. Why should I send water to Punjab? Punjab already has three rivers as per the Indus Waters Treaty. Has Punjab given us any water?'
This drew a sharp response from political parties in Punjab, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) saying Omar Abdullah cannot make a 'unilateral decision'. The party's spokesperson in the state, Neel Garg, told PTI, 'Whenever there is a war, Punjab becomes the battleground. And when the country needs foodgrains, it becomes the granary of the nation. Now that there is water available, Punjab has a legitimate claim over it.'
Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring took to X to criticise Omar's statements. 'It's sad that JK CM @OmarAbdullah ji has started doing politics over the proposed canals to be constructed to prevent flow of water to Pakistan. Want to ask Omar Sahab doesn't it amount to treating us at a par with Pakistan? We have suspended Indus Water Treaty as Pakistan has proved to be a rogue and enemy nation to us. What reasons do you have to refuse water to us?'
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Punjab minister Daljit Singh Cheema also weighed in on the issue, accusing Omar of doing injustice to Punjab and pointing to the state's role as the food bowl of the country. He said farmers in the state had taken on a 'huge debt' to fulfil the food requirements of the country. 'Every time it is Punjab which suffers the most. River waters were snatched from our state … It is a historical fact that the then Indira Gandhi government did great injustice to Punjab by giving away a huge share of its river water to Rajasthan, a non-riparian state,' PTI quoted him as saying.
How this plays out will be among the political stories to watch out for on Saturday.
It is the 11th International Yoga Day today and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Visakhapatnam to participate in the celebrations. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has said the event, scheduled from 6.30 am to 8 am, will be organised in such a way to get recognition and set records, including a Guinness World Record.
The event the PM will participate in will be held in a 26-km-long corridor where more than 3 lakh people can perform yoga together, according to officials.
— With PTI inputs
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