War of words erupted between Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his predecessor Mehbooba Mufti on social media over the revival of the Tulbul Navigation project after the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty amid India-Pakistan tensions.
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
PDP president Mufti accused Abdullah of adopting "provocative measures" amid the ongoing tensions. Jammu and Kashmir CM alleged that Mufti was trying to gain "cheap publicity points" and trying to "please some people" in Pakistan by opposing the idea.
What is Tulbul Navigation Project?
The Tulbul Navigation project also known as the Wular Barrage Storage project seeks to rejuvenate the Jhelum-fed Wular lake in Bandipora district. The Tulbul project involves construction of a 439ft long and 40ft wide barrage with a navigation lock at Wullar Lake. The project was launched in 1987 but was paused in 2007 amid objections from Pakistan as they claimed it violated the Indus Waters Treaty.
After the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, Abdullah called for the resumption of the Tulbul Navigation project.
"I wonder if we will be able to resume the project," posted J&K CM on X.
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
However, Mufti launched an attack against Abdullah and labelled his call to revive the project as "irresponsible and dangerously provocative".
"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," she said.
Following her remarks, Abdullah accused her of attempting to "please some people" across the border. He added that he has always opposed the Indus Waters Treaty and will continue to do so.
"Opposing a blatantly unfair treaty is in no way, shape, size or form warmongering, it's about correcting a historic injustice that denied the people of J&K the right to use our water for ourselves," he added.
Just leaving this out there because “consistency” is in such short supply. pic.twitter.com/jn9x2zAqwS
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 16, 2025
PDP has consistently called for the return of power projects that NC handed over to NHPC on a platter at a pittance.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) May 16, 2025
Even in the PDP-BJP Agenda of Alliance, it was agreed that two projects would be returned to Jammu & Kashmir to compensate for losses from the Indus Waters… https://t.co/YTHZgf91mx pic.twitter.com/U2MByggqYW
In a separate post, CM Abdullah shared a news report which quoted Mufti saying, "Jammu and Kashmir has suffered due to the Indus Waters Treaty". "Just leaving this out there because "consistency" is in such short supply," he said.
