‘Shouldn't Pakistanis Have Water’: Another Karnataka Minister Stokes Row, Questions Indus Treaty Suspension

Last Updated:April 28, 2025, 13:27 IST

Karnataka Minister Santosh Lad stoked a controversy with his remarks on the Indus Waters Treaty suspension by the Centre in the aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack.

Pahalgam terror attack: Govt puts Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance (PTI Image)

After Karnataka Minister RB Timmapur stoked a row with his remarks on the Pahalgam terror attack, his colleague Santosh Lad on Monday sparked another controversy by questioning the Centre’s motive behind the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan after terrorists killed 26 people in Kashmir.

Lad claimed that the Narendra Modi government at the Centre took the step in the aftermath of the terror attack to “impress people".

“Shouldn’t Pakistanis have water, don’t they drink water?" Lad questioned, sparking the row.

Just a day ago, his colleague in the government, Timmapur, had stoked a controversy, questioning the survivors’ revelations that terrorists had questioned them about their religion to ascertain if they were non-Muslims and then shot them point-blank.

“A man who is shooting, will he ask caste or religion? He will just shoot and go," the Minister had said, drawing sharp response from the BJP.

Earlier today, Maharashtra Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar also reiterated the statement made by Timmapur and said, “The government should take responsibility for the Pahalgam Terrorist Attack. They (the government) are saying that terrorists killed people after asking them (about their religion). Do terrorists have time for all this?… Some people say that this did not happen. Terrorists have no caste or religion. Catch those who are responsible and take action. This is the sentiment of the country."

The BJP took on the Congress party over the remarks and said that the Congress leaders are “competing to give a clean chit to Pakistan".

“Now Vijay Wadettiwar says that the government is responsible, Pakistan is not responsible, and is there any proof that terrorists killed people based on religion. In the all-party meeting, they will say that Pakistan is responsible, take action against Pakistan, take action against terrorists, and we are with you. And after the all-party meeting, they say don’t take action against Pakistan," BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said.

As many as 26 people were killed in the terrorist attack at Baisaran valley in Pahalgam on April 22 afternoon. According to the revelations made by the victims of the attack, the tourists were asked to recite Kalma and ascertain their identities, and those who failed to do so were shot dead on the spot.

A day after the attack, the government suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, among other measures, as immediate non-military steps against Pakistan. In turn, Pakistan suspended the Simla Agreement with India.

News politics ‘Shouldn't Pakistanis Have Water’: Another Karnataka Minister Stokes Row, Questions Indus Treaty Suspension