Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 21: Dr Abhijeet Jasrotia, a prominent political figure today strongly criticized the Congress party and its leadership for historical blunders related to the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) and the treatment of PoJK (Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir) refugees.
Addressing a press conference here today, Dr Jasrotia said, “The IWT signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan, was a significant blunder by Nehru, as it handed over control of 135 million acre-feet of water from the Indus and Jhelum rivers to Pakistan, while India retained only 33 million acre-feet from the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers.”
He emphasized that this unequal distribution has had long-term consequences for India’s water security, particularly in the regions of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.
Dr Jasrotia specifically criticized former PM Indira Gandhi for not demanding compensation for PoJK refugees during the construction of the Mangla Dam in Pakistan.
“While Indira Gandhi congratulated then-Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on the dam’s completion, but she failed to secure payments for the displaced PoJK refugees,” he added.
Dr Jasrotia endorsed Tariq Hameed Karra’s recent statement acknowledging Nehru’s blunder in signing the IWT and urged the Congress party to take responsibility for its past mistakes and work towards rectifying the injustices faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.
He highlighted the long-standing issues related to the IWT and the failures of successive Governments to address the concerns of affected regions.
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