Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 16 : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti war of words on X intensified on Friday over the revival of the Tulbul Navigation Project.
Tulbul Navigation Project is aimed at improving navigation on the River Jhelum and power generation.
Omar Abdullah's call to revive the project on Thursday was seen as provocative by Mehbooba Mufti, especially after both countries had stepped back from the brink of war in the backdrop of the Pahalgam terror attack, abeyance of Inus Water Treaty and Operation Sindoor.
Chief Minister Abdullah took to social media to counter what he termed as "cheap shots" from Mehbooba, asserting he would not be drawn into a "gutter" level of debate.
These remarks came after Mufti brought Abdullah's grandfather and former J-K Chief Minister Sheikh Abdullah into the heated exchange between the two on the issue of the Indus Water Treaty and the Tulbul Navigation Project.
The Chief Minister further suggested the PDP chief can keep posting as he would now engage in some "real work."
In a social media post, replying to PDP chief Mufti, Abdullah said, "Is that really the best you can do? Taking cheap shots at a person you yourself have called Kashmir's tallest leader. I'll rise above the gutter you want to take this conversation to by keeping the late Mufti Sahib and 'North Pole South Pole' out of this."
He added, "You keep advocating the interests of anyone you want to & I'll keep advocating for the interests of the people of J&K to use our own rivers for our own benefit. I'm not going to stop the water, just use more of it for ourselves. Now I think I'll do some real work & you can keep posting."
https://x.com/OmarAbdullah/status/1923305975982772291
Mehbooba Mufti highlighted the Tulbul Navigation Barrage project, which was started in the 1980s but abandoned due to Pakistan's objections under the IWT.
With the treaty temporarily suspended, she wondered if the project could be resumed, which would allow Jammu and Kashmir to utilize the Jhelum River for navigation and improve power generation.
The PDP chief has said, "Time will reveal who seeks to appease whom. However, it's worth recalling that your esteemed grandfather Sheikh Sahab once advocated for accession to Pakistan for over two decades after losing power. But post being reinstated as Chief Minister he suddenly reversed his stance by aligning with India."
Mehbooba Mufti criticised Omar's move, saying the IWT was unfair to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. She argued that opposing the treaty wasn't about warmongering but correcting a historical injustice that denied the region the right to use its own water resources.
The dispute over the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) has been a longstanding issue between India and Pakistan.
"In contrast the PDP has consistently upheld its convictions & commitments & unlike your party whose loyalties have shifted dramatically according to political expediency . We don't need to stoke tensions or adopt warmongering rhetoric to validate our dedication. Our actions speak for themselves," she added.
She emphasized the need for peace and cautioned against weaponizing water, which could internationalize a bilateral issue.
Mehbooba Mufti argues that the IWT denies Jammu and Kashmir the right to use its own water resources, perpetuating a historical injustice.
https://x.com/MehboobaMufti/status/1923297202375409800
Earlier, J-K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and People Democratic Party (PDP) engage in a war of words on X, after Mufti questioned the CM's stand on the Indus Treaty, Abdullah lashed out at her and accused her of trying to "please some people sitting across the border".
He maintained his stand against the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), saying that it had been the "biggest historical betrayal" to the interests of people in Jammu and Kashmir. Abdullah argued that opposition to the "unfair treaty" does not characterise as "warmongering", but rather about making corrections.
"Actually what is unfortunate is that with your blind lust to try to score cheap publicity points and please some people sitting across the border, you refuse to acknowledge that the IWT has been one of the biggest historic betrayals of the interests of the people of J&K. I have always opposed this treaty and I will continue to do so. Opposing a blatantly unfair treaty is in no way, shape, size or form warmongering, it's about correcting a historic injustice that denied the people of J&K the right to use our water for ourselves," Abdullah replied to Mufti on X.
Earlier, Mufti launched a scathing attack against Omar Abdullah over a call for the revival of the Tulbul Navigation project, labelling the demand as "irresponsible and dangerously provocative".
She said that such statements were "dangerously provocative" given that both countries have moved away from the brink of a "full-fledged war", with people of Jammu and Kashmir bearing the brunt of destruction.
Abdullah had advocated for the revival of the Tulbul Navigation project, given that the IWT has been suspended following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.