'After Pulwama attack, India to cut Pakistan’s water supply,' says Nitin Gadkari

In a major setback on February 14 Pulwama attack, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, on Thursday, threatened that India would ‘cut’ the water supply to Pakistan. Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari came up with an effective mode of retaliation. At an event, Gadkari pitched for diversion of 3 outflowing rivers into the Yamuna.

India’s three major rivers--- Indus, Jhelum and Chenab, that originate from the country and end up flowing across the border, that plays a vital role in addressing the drinking water needs of Pakistan. Notable, Islamabad also moved to the UN and the World Bank against India construction of dams to retain a portion of the outflowing Indus water.

"The water of three rivers given to Pakistan will be diverted to revive the Yamuna," Gadkari said in Haridwar. On Thursday, Gadkari inaugurated and laid foundation stones for National Highway and Namami Gange works amounting to Rs 5,894 crore.

"When India and Pakistan were divided, three rivers were given to Pakistan and three to India. However, India continuously gave the river water supply to Pakistan, but now we will use that river water supply to nurture the Yamuna river through the Yamuna project." Gadkari said.

Earlier, commenting on the Pulwama terror attack, in which over 40 security personnel were killed, Gadkari had said, "Saddened by the loss of life of our soldiers in Pulwama (J&K). The motherland will never forget the sacrifice of martyrs. My deepest condolences with the families who have lost their sons." Shortly after the Pulwama attack, Pakistan-backed terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed had claimed responsibility for the attack.

Immediately after Pulwama attack, the government withdrew the 'Most Favoured Nation (MFN)' status from Pakistan and increased the customs duty from Pakistan to 200 per cent.

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