Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday slammed Mehbooba Mufti on social media for opposing the reinstatement of the Tulbul Navigation Project. The J&K CM accused Mufti of ignoring how the Indus Waters Treaty had historically betrayed Kashmir’s interests.
The war of words broke out after Mufti called Abdullah’s stance on resuming work on the Tulbul Navigation Project “deeply irresponsible.”
“J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s call to revive the Tulbul Navigation Project amid ongoing tensions between India & Pakistan is deeply unfortunate. At a time when both countries have just stepped back from the brink of a full-fledged war—with Jammu and Kashmir bearing the brunt through the loss of innocent lives, widespread destruction and immense suffering such statements are not only irresponsible but also dangerously provocative. Our people deserve peace as much as anyone else in the country. Weaponizing something as essential and life giving as water is not only inhumane but also risks internationalizing what should remain a bilateral matter,” she had written as a response to Abdullah’s post on X.
Responding to this, Abdullah wrote: “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,” said Abdullah in an X post.”
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s call to revive the Tulbul Navigation Project amid ongoing tensions between India & Pakistan is deeply unfortunate. At a time when both countries have just stepped back from the brink of a full-fledged war—with Jammu and Kashmir bearing the brunt… https://t.co/LZrVAhIukQ
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) May 16, 2025
According to the J&K CM, the civil works on the Tulbul Navigation Barrage was started in the early 1980s but had to be abandoned under pressure from Pakistan citing the Indus Water Treaty. The minister suggested that if the same work could be resumed, given the fact that the treaty had been temporarily suspended. He claimed it would give India the advantage of allowing Kashmir to use the Jhelum for navigation. It will also improve the power generation of downstream power projects, especially in winter, he added.
The Wular lake in North Kashmir. The civil works you see in the video is the Tulbul Navigation Barrage. It was started in the early 1980s but had to be abandoned under pressure from Pakistan citing the Indus Water Treaty. Now that the IWT has been “temporarily suspended” I… pic.twitter.com/MQbGSXJKvq
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 15, 2025
Reacting to Abdullah’s allegation of appeasing people on other side of the border, Mufti wrote: “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. 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.”
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. You keep advocating the… https://t.co/R6wGL2o4tL
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 16, 2025
Abdullah again hit back at her, this time appearing little more disgusted as he wrote: “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. 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.”
Actually what is unfortunate is that with your blind lust to try to score cheap publicity points & 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… https://t.co/j55YwE2r39
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 16, 2025
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