Nehru partitioned India twice, says PM Modi in reference to Indus Water Treaty

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently addressed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Parliamentary meeting, where he strongly critiqued former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's role in the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan. According to sources cited by news agency ANI, Modi stated that Nehru himself had acknowledged that the treaty provided no advantage to India.

He asserted that Nehru had essentially partitioned the country twice -- first with the Radcliffe line and then with this treaty, which allocated 80 per cent of the river's water to Pakistan.

Modi expressed that the treaty was detrimental to Indian farmers and labelled it a betrayal. BJP MP Jagdambika Pal echoed this sentiment, arguing that Nehru should have sought Parliament's approval before signing the agreement.


He remarked, "The country has been betrayed," emphasising that Nehru went to Pakistan without the backing of the cabinet or Parliament.

Ravi Shankar Prasad, another BJP MP present at the meeting, supported Modi's critique, highlighting that Nehru had not only signed the treaty unilaterally but also transferred Rs 80 crore to Pakistan. He stated that parliamentary discussions are crucial prior to such agreements, underscoring the lack of democratic process in this instance.

India's position regarding the Indus Waters Treaty has recently gained attention, especially after the country rejected a ruling from the Hague-based Court of Arbitration. An official noted that India does not recognise the court's authority, asserting that its decisions lack jurisdiction and do not impact India's rights concerning water utilisation.

Following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam earlier this year, which resulted in numerous casualties, India has put the Indus Waters Treaty on hold. The government has stated that this suspension will remain until Pakistan takes credible steps to renounce its support for cross-border terrorism.

The Indus Waters Treaty, established in 1960 after extensive negotiations aided by the World Bank, allocates the rivers of the Indus basin between India and Pakistan. Under the agreement, the Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab) are designated for Pakistan, while the Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej) are allocated to India.

In addition to his remarks on the treaty, Modi introduced CP Radhakrishnan as the NDA's Vice Presidential candidate. He described Radhakrishnan as a grassroots leader from the Other Backward Class (OBC) community, highlighting his straightforward nature and political integrity.