Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Saturday criticised former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru for signing the Indus Waters Treaty and described the accord as one of many best strategic blunders in India’s historical past.
Taking to X, Assam CM Sarma wrote, “Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s signing of the Indus Waters Treaty in 1960 stands as one of many best strategic blunders in India’s historical past. Regardless of India’s pure higher riparian benefit, Nehru, below immense stress from the then American administration and the World Financial institution, handed away over 80% of the Indus basin waters to Pakistan – gifting full management over the mighty Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers, whereas limiting India to the smaller jap rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej).”
He added that because of this treaty, Pakistan acquired a staggering 135 million acre-feet (MAF) of water yearly, whereas India was left with simply 33 MAF.
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s signing of the Indus Waters Treaty in 1960 stands as one of many best strategic blunders in India’s historical past. Regardless of India’s pure higher riparian benefit, Nehru, below immense stress from the then American administration and the World Financial institution,…
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 26, 2025
“….Worse, India’s rights over the western rivers have been restricted to minor irrigation and run-of-the-river hydro tasks with out significant storage, completely compromising the water wants of Punjab, Haryana, and Jammu & Kashmir. Nehru’s misplaced obsession with worldwide approval got here at the price of India’s long-term nationwide curiosity, weakening India’s strategic and agricultural power in its personal land,” the Assam chief minister mentioned.
Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s determination to droop the Indus Waters Treaty, CM Sarma wrote, “At this time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has delivered a historic physique blow to this injustice. By initiating India’s withdrawal from the treaty, Modi has reclaimed India’s sovereign rights over its rivers, sending a transparent message that India will now not reward terror and hostility with appeasement.”
Terming the choice as a “daring transfer”, CM Sarma mentioned it strikes on the coronary heart of Pakistan’s fragile financial system, the place over 75 per cent of agriculture depends upon Indus waters.
“…. Modi’s motion marks the rise of a brand new, assertive India – decided to defend its pursuits with out apology,” he added.