Latest news with #OmarAbdullah
Mint
an hour ago
- Politics
- Mint
Omar Abdullah asks what ‘forced' Israel to attack Iran: ‘This is not a good thing'
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday questioned Israel's motive to attack Iran while asserting that there is no need of a war anywhere in the world. Talking to reporters after inaugurating an outreach office -- Raabta -- in Jammu, Abdullah asked what exactly Iran did that forced Israel to launch an attack. 'This is not a good thing. War anywhere is not a good thing. What exactly did Iran do that forced Israel to attack? The sooner this conflict ends, the better,' he said. Taking a dig at Israel, he said, "Two months ago, the US intelligence chief said that Iran is nowhere close to building a nuclear bomb. That was the evidence then. And now, after two months, Israel has suddenly launched an attack on Iran." He said that although the war is between Iran and Israel, more than 6,000 Indians have been trapped. "We are evacuating them one by one. Ninety students (from J-K) have already been brought out, and another 400 have reached safer locations. Efforts are on to evacuate more than 6,000 students, out of which 1,400 are from Jammu and Kashmir," he said. Asked about some of the 90 students -- who landed in Delhi on Thursday morning after being evacuated from Iran -- complaining about the condition of buses in which they were taken to Kashmir, he admitted that the vehicles arranged initially "weren't up to the mark". "As soon as we were informed, we arranged proper vehicles, and they are now reaching their homes... Officials there have been told to be more careful in the future," he said. Asserting that Jammu and Kashmir should be allowed to use its waters, Abdullah made it clear that no permission will be given as of now for any proposal to build a canal to divert surplus water to other states. "Nobody will give it (approval). As of now, I am not going to give approval to it. Let us be allowed to use our water first, then we will talk about others," Abdullah said. He was replying to a question on the central government's proposed construction of a 113-km canal to transfer surplus water from Jammu and Kashmir to Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan to prevent it from flowing to neighbouring Pakistan. "Right now, Jammu is facing water scarcity... There is no water in the taps. Why should I send water to Punjab? Punjab already has three rivers as per the Indus Water Treaty. Has Punjab given us any water?" he said. The chief minister highlighted that when Jammu and Kashmir was desperate for water, Punjab did not share water from the Ujh multipurpose project and Shahpur Kandi barrage. "They made us suffer for years, and only after a prolonged struggle did they take some steps," he said. "We will use it (water) first, and only then consider others' needs," he added. Speaking about the Indus Water Treaty, he said the government is working on two key projects -- The Tulbul Barrage, work on which should resume soon, and the pumping of water from the Chenab River at Akhnoor to supply drinking water to Jammu city. Abdullah also expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government will stand by their commitment to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. "We are hopeful that the prime minister, who made a promise to the people and reiterated that promise during the Sonamarg event and afterwards too, and the government will stand by their commitment, and Jammu and Kashmir will get back its status as a state." Asked if taking the legal route was under consideration, he said, "When the time comes to talk about legal options, I will call you." On the issue of reservation in government services raised by PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, he said, "How can Mehbooba Mufti speak on this issue now? Check her past tweets (posts on X); she remained silent on this earlier. Now she is showing fake sympathy." He said the Law Department is examining the report on the issue of reservation. Once the report comes back, the Cabinet will hold discussions on it.
India.com
an hour ago
- Politics
- India.com
J-K CM Omar Abdullah Details Iran Evacuation Efforts, Urges Israel-Iran Dialogue
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah provided an update on the evacuation of Indian students, mostly from J-K, stranded in Iran due to the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, emphasizing the use of land routes to Armenia for their safe return. He said over 300 to 400 students are expected to reach safer zones by today, from where they will be repatriated to India via Armenia. He stated, "We cannot evacuate them overnight because no airports are open, no ports are operational. We are first bringing them by road to cities where there is no bombing, and from there, efforts are being made to bring them back to India via Armenia. Today, we expect around 300 to 400 more students to arrive, most of whom are from Jammu and Kashmir. We will bring them back home safely, and there is a sense of hope all around." Amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, Abdullah called for de-escalation through dialogue. "The India-Pakistan issue is a separate matter, and the Israel-Iran issue is different. In any case, this bombing should never have started. Earlier, when the head of U.S. intelligence was asked whether Iran had nuclear weapons, he said he didn't think they would be able to make one anytime soon. But within a few months, Israel launched attacks on Iran. These attacks must stop, and the issues should be resolved through dialogue," he said. Abdullah also voiced concerns over the dynamics of India-U.S. relations, suggesting that the United States prioritises its interests over bilateral ties with India. He said, "We can't dictate to the US President whom he should invite for dinner. We used to think the US President was our close friend, and he would respect that, but the US does what benefits it..." Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh on Thursday welcomed the first group of 110 Indian nationals evacuated from Iran amid the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's office informed that he had taken note of the students evacuated from Iran's request regarding the quality of the buses arranged to transport them from Delhi to J-K. "The Chief Minister has taken note of the request of the students evacuated from Iran regarding the quality of buses arranged to transport them from Delhi to J-K. The Resident Commissioner has been tasked with coordinating with the JKRTC to ensure proper deluxe buses are arranged," the chief minister's office said in a post on X. Students who have been evacuated under Operation Sindhu from conflict-affected Iran raised issues about the buses that the J-K government is providing for them to travel to their home state. The Indian government has launched Operation Sindhu to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran, given the deteriorating situation as a result of the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.
Hans India
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Omar Abdullah deliberately politicising water sharing with Punjab: AAP
Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab on Friday questioned Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's remarks that 'we will not give water from the Indus River to Punjab' and accused him of deliberately politicising the issue. AAP spokesperson Neel Garg said the authority to decide on river waters lies with the Central government, and Omar Abdullah cannot take a unilateral decision on this matter. He emphasised that Punjab needs water and, therefore, Punjab should also get a share of the Indus River water, adding that during the war with Pakistan, the Indian government had decided to annul the Indus Water Treaty. 'Now, it is the Indian government's responsibility to appropriately distribute the remaining water and give Punjab its rightful share,' he said. Garg pointed out that like Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab is also a border state. 'Whenever war occurs, Punjab becomes the battleground. And when the country needs food grains, it becomes the granary of the nation. Now that there is water available, Punjab has a legitimate claim over it.' He highlighted that Punjab needs water today, as most of its regions have entered the dark zone. 'In the process of filling the nation's granaries, we have been deprived of our own water. Now that the Indus Water Treaty has been annulled, Punjab has the primary right over this water because it will not only bring relief to our barren lands but also boost our agriculture. When farmers prosper, the nation prospers,' he said. Garg added that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also stated, after the annulment of the Indus Treaty, that Punjab should receive a share of the water that is being prevented from flowing to Pakistan. 'Therefore, the government of India must consider this matter,' he said. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) also expressed surprise at Omar Abdullah's statement. In a statement, former Minister and senior SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema said what Omar Abdullah was demanding was another attempt to do injustice to Punjab. He said that while filling the food bowl of the country, Punjab had lost its groundwater, which had fallen to alarming levels. He said the quantity of water in rivers had also gone down substantially, adding that the farmers of Punjab had taken huge debt on their shoulders to fulfil the food requirement of the country. Earlier, speaking on constructing a canal by the government of India to divert excess water from three rivers of the Indus system in Jammu and Kashmir to Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan, Chief Minister Abdullah cited the 45-year-old Shahpur Kandi barrage dispute with Punjab and asked, 'Did they give us water?'
News18
4 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
'Why Send Water To Punjab? Did They Help Us?': Omar Abdullah On Indus Water Diversion Plan
Last Updated: Omar Abdullah made it clear that Jammu and Kashmir should prioritise its own needs first Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday firmly opposed a proposal to divert surplus water from the Union Territory's rivers to Punjab. Abdullah's remarks came in response to reports that India is planning to channel excess water from three western rivers of the Indus system—Chenab, Jhelum, and Ravi—from J&K to Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan through a proposed 113-km-long canal. Speaking to the media at a press conference, he made it clear that Jammu and Kashmir should prioritise its own needs first. 'Why should I send water to Punjab?" Abdullah said. 'I will never permit this. Let us use our water for ourselves first… There is a drought-like situation in Jammu." He further stated, 'Punjab already had water under the Indus Water Treaty. Did they give us water when we needed it?" The Chief Minister also referred to the decades-old water-sharing dispute between Punjab and J&K, particularly over the Shahpur Kandi barrage project in Pathankot. Although an agreement was signed in 1979, the project only moved forward in 2018, after intervention by the central government, India Today reported. ' Kitne saal unhone humein rulaya (They made us cry for so many years)," Abdullah stated. The central government is reportedly working on a plan to fully utilise India's share of water under the Indus Waters Treaty. A feasibility study is ongoing for a 113-km inter-basin canal that will connect the Chenab River to the Ravi-Beas-Sutlej system. This canal would divert surplus water from Jammu and Kashmir to Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. The project is expected to integrate with 13 existing canal systems across these regions and eventually feed into the Indira Gandhi Canal—India's longest canal—helping redistribute water to drier areas. First Published: June 20, 2025, 17:16 IST
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
What exactly did Iran do to provoke Israel, asks J&K CM Omar Abdullah
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday asserted that war anywhere is not a good thing as he questioned Israel's compulsion to attack Iran. The National Conference leader also said that Jammu and Kashmir should have the right to use its waters and underlined that, as of now, there is no intention to divert surplus water to other states. Abdullah was interacting with the media after inaugurating an outreach officeRaabta in Jammu to ensure efficient grievance redressal and informed decision-making through data-driven monitoring and strategic communication. Asked about the Israel-Iran conflict, Omar Abdullah said, "This is not a good thing. War anywhere is not a good thing. What exactly did Iran do that forced Israel to attack? The sooner this conflict ends, the better". Taking a dig at Israel, he said, "Two months ago, Israel's intelligence chief said that Iran is nowhere close to building a nuclear bomb. That was the evidence then. And now, after two months, Israel has suddenly launched an attack on Iran." He said that although the war is between Iran and Israel, more than 6,000 Indians have been trapped. "We are evacuating them one by one. Ninety students (from J-K) have already been brought out, and another 400 have reached safer locations. Efforts are on to evacuate more than 6,000 students, out of which 1,400 are from Jammu and Kashmir," he said. Asked about some of the 90 students who landed in Delhi on Thursday morning after being evacuated from Iran complaining about the condition of buses in which they were taken to Kashmir, he admitted that the vehicles arranged initially "weren't up to the mark". "As soon as we were informed, we arranged proper vehicles, and they are now reaching their homes... Officials there have been told to be more careful in the future," he said. Asserting that Jammu and Kashmir should be allowed to use its waters, Abdullah made it clear that no permission will be given as of now for any proposal to build a canal to divert surplus water to other states. "Nobody will give it (approval). As of now, I am not going to give approval to it. Let us be allowed to use our water first, then we will talk about others," Abdullah said. He was replying to a question on the central government's proposed construction of a 113-km canal to transfer surplus water from Jammu and Kashmir to Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan to prevent it from flowing to neighbouring Pakistan. "Right now, Jammu is facing water scarcity... There is no water in the taps. Why should I send water to Punjab? Punjab already has three rivers as per the Indus Water Treaty. Has Punjab given us any water?" he said. The chief minister highlighted that when Jammu and Kashmir was desperate for water, Punjab did not share water from the Ujh multipurpose project and Shahpur Kandi barrage. "They made us suffer for years, and only after a prolonged struggle did they take some steps," he said. "We will use it (water) first, and only then consider others' needs," he added. Speaking about the Indus Water Treaty, he said the government is working on two key projects -- The Tulbul Barrage, work on which should resume soon, and the pumping of water from the Chenab River at Akhnoor to supply drinking water to Jammu city. Abdullah also expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government will stand by their commitment to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. "We are hopeful that the prime minister, who made a promise to the people and reiterated that promise during the Sonamarg event and afterwards too, and the government will stand by their commitment, and Jammu and Kashmir will get back its status as a state." Asked if taking the legal route was under consideration, he said, "When the time comes to talk about legal options, I will call you." On the issue of reservation in government services raised by PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, he said, 'How can Mehbooba Mufti speak on this issue now? Check her past tweets (posts on X); she remained silent on this earlier. Now she is showing fake sympathy.' He said the Law Department is examining the report on the issue of reservation. Once the report comes back, the Cabinet will hold discussions on it.
