New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti, engaged in a war of words on social media, over the Tulbul Navigation project. While Abdullah called for revival of the project, Mufti accused him and his government of resorting to “provocative” measures amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan.
In response Abdullah accused Mufti of trying to score “cheap publicity points” and also “please some people in Pakistan” by opposing the Tulbul Navigation Project.
What is Tulbul Navigation Project?
The Tulbul Navigation Project seeks to rejuvenate the Wular lake in Bandipora. Work on the project started in 1987, but it was stalled in 2007 after Pakistan objected to it, citing violation of the Indus Water Treaty. Now that India has suspended the Treaty, Abdullah called for revival of the project and wanted that work begin on the Wular Lake. India suspended the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.
In a post on ‘X’, National Conference leader Abdullah said, “The Wular lake in North Kashmir. The civil works you see in the video is the Tulbul Navigation Barrage. It was started in the early 1980s but had to be abandoned under pressure from Pakistan citing the Indus Water Treaty. Now that the IWT has been “temporarily suspended” I wonder if we will be able to resume the project.”
The Wular lake in North Kashmir. The civil works you see in the video is the Tulbul Navigation Barrage. It was started in the early 1980s but had to be abandoned under pressure from Pakistan citing the Indus Water Treaty. Now that the IWT has been “temporarily suspended” I… pic.twitter.com/MQbGSXJKvq
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 15, 2025
He further wrote that the revival of the project will give us (Kashmir) the advantage of allowing us to use the Jhelum for navigation. It will also improve the power generation of downstream power projects, especially in winter.
Mehbooba Mufti counters Abdullah
Soon after Abdullah’s post on ‘X’, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti took it upon herself to call out the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister. She termed the call for revival of the Tulbul Water Prject “deeply unfortunate”. She wrote on the microblogging site, “J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s call to revive the Tulbul Navigation Project amid ongoing tensions between India & Pakistan is deeply unfortunate. At a time when both countries have just stepped back from the brink of a full-fledged war—with Jammu and Kashmir bearing the brunt through the loss of innocent lives, widespread destruction and immense suffering such statements are not only irresponsible but also dangerously provocative. Our people deserve peace as much as anyone else in the country. Weaponizing something as essential and life giving as water is not only inhumane but also risks internationalizing what should remain a bilateral matter.”
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s call to revive the Tulbul Navigation Project amid ongoing tensions between India & Pakistan is deeply unfortunate. At a time when both countries have just stepped back from the brink of a full-fledged war—with Jammu and Kashmir bearing the brunt… https://t.co/LZrVAhIukQ
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) May 16, 2025
The spat continued between the 2 leaders as the Jammu and Kashmir CM chose to respond to the Opposition leader. He accused Mufti of trying to “score cheap brownie points” through her statement. He also accused her of trying to please some people in Pakistan and termed the Indus Water Treaty as the biggest historic betrayals of the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said that he had always opposed the treaty between the 2 countries and will continue to do so. He further said that his opposition to the Indus Water Treaty was to correct the historic injustice that denied the people of J&K the right to use our water for ourselves.
Actually what is unfortunate is that with your blind lust to try to score cheap publicity points & please some people sitting across the border, you refuse to acknowledge that the IWT has been one of the biggest historic betrayals of the interests of the people of J&K. I have… https://t.co/j55YwE2r39
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 16, 2025
Responding to Abdullah’s charge of trying to please Pakistan through her post, Mufti reminded him that it was actually his grandfather, Sheikh Abdullah once advocated for accession to Pakistan for over two decades after losing power. But post being reinstated as Chief Minister he suddenly reversed his stance by aligning with India.In contrast Mufti claimed, the PDP had consistently upheld its convictions & commitments & unlike your party whose loyalties have shifted dramatically according to political expediency.
Time will reveal who seeks to appease whom. However, it’s worth recalling that your esteemed grandfather Sheikh Sahab once advocated for accession to Pakistan for over two decades after losing power. But post being reinstated as Chief Minister he suddenly reversed his stance by… https://t.co/2jSBku731K
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) May 16, 2025
In a sharp retort Abdullah called her statement cheap. He said, “I’ll rise above the gutter you want to take this conversation to by keeping the late Mufti Sahib and ‘North Pole South Pole’ out of this. You keep advocating the interests of anyone you want to & I’ll keep advocating for the interests of the people of J&K to use our own rivers for our own benefit. I’m not going to stop the water, just use more of it for ourselves.”
Is that really the best you can do? Taking cheap shots at a person you yourself have called Kashmir’s tallest leader. I’ll rise above the gutter you want to take this conversation to by keeping the late Mufti Sahib and “North Pole South Pole” out of this. You keep advocating the… https://t.co/R6wGL2o4tL
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 16, 2025
The conversation between the two politicians comes soon after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire, along the border. The 2 countries were on the brink of war after India’s “Operation Sindoor” following the terror attack in Pahalgam. The terror attack left 26 people dead. The April 22 attack in the Union Territory led India to bomb several terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. Later however, the 2 countries agreed to a ceasefire.
