Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, May 5: In a bold and strategic move following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, the Narendra Modi-led government has halted the flow of water from the Salal Dam on the Chenab River into Pakistan, citing national security and public sentiment.

BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya lauded the decision on Monday, calling it part of the “muscular Modi Doctrine”, and posted visuals showing the dry Chenab riverbed and closed gates at the Salal Dam in Jammu & Kashmir’s Raesi district. Malviya emphasized the symbolism behind the decision, declaring, “Water and the blood of our citizens cannot flow together.”

The action follows increasing calls within India to reassess the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), a decades-old water-sharing agreement with Pakistan brokered by the World Bank in 1960. India has so far honored the treaty, even during periods of conflict, but the brutal killing of 26 civilians, including 25 tourists, in the Pahalgam attack has significantly altered the tone of bilateral relations.

Malviya also took aim at Congress leaders, particularly Ajay Rai, for allegedly mocking the Indian Air Force and accused the Congress of “speaking Pakistan’s language” — suggesting a stark contrast between the Modi government's assertiveness and the opposition's stance.

Meanwhile, former Union Minister Farooq Abdullah, a senior leader of the National Conference, backed the suspension of the IWT, stating, “We’ve been saying for years that this treaty should be renegotiated. The water is ours. We have a right to it.”

The Salal Dam, located on the Chenab River in the Reasi district of Jammu, is a crucial part of India’s hydroelectric infrastructure and a significant source of water flow into Pakistan’s Punjab province. India’s decision to cut off this supply signals a dramatic escalation in diplomatic and strategic pressure on Islamabad.

This move joins a string of retaliatory measures following the Pahalgam attack, including:

• Massive anti-terror operations across Jammu and Kashmir,
• Deportation of Pakistani nationals, and
• Suspension of cultural, trade, and postal ties.

The central government has made it clear that all actions henceforth will prioritize national security, even if it means breaking with decades-old bilateral commitments.