What precisely did Iran do to impress Israel, asks J&Ok CM Omar Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday (June 20, 2025) asserted that battle anyplace is just not factor as he questioned Israel’s compulsion to assault Iran.

The Nationwide Convention chief additionally stated that Jammu and Kashmir ought to have the suitable to make use of its waters and underlined that, as of now, there isn’t any intention to divert surplus water to different states.

Israel-Iran battle LIVE updates – June 20, 2025

Mr. Abdullah was interacting with the media after inaugurating an outreach workplace, Raabta, in Jammu to make sure environment friendly grievance redressal and knowledgeable decision-making via data-driven monitoring and strategic communication.

Requested concerning the Israel-Iran battle, Mr. Abdullah stated, “This isn’t factor. Battle anyplace is just not factor. What precisely did Iran try this compelled Israel to assault? The earlier this battle ends, the higher”.

Taking a dig at Israel, he stated, “Two months in the past, Israel’s intelligence chief stated that Iran is nowhere near constructing a nuclear bomb. That was the proof then. And now, after two months, Israel has all of a sudden launched an assault on Iran.”

Indians stranded

He stated that though the battle is between Iran and Israel, greater than 6,000 Indians have been trapped.

“We’re evacuating them one after the other. Ninety college students (from J&Ok) have already been introduced out, and one other 400 have reached safer areas. Efforts are on to evacuate greater than 6,000 college students, out of which 1,400 are from Jammu and Kashmir,” he stated.

Requested about among the 90 college students — who landed in Delhi on Thursday morning after being evacuated from Iran — complaining concerning the situation of buses during which they have been taken to Kashmir, he admitted that the automobiles organized initially “weren’t up to speed”.

“As quickly as we have been knowledgeable, we organized correct automobiles, and they’re now reaching their houses… Officers there have been advised to be extra cautious sooner or later,” he stated.

Water dispute

Asserting that Jammu and Kashmir must be allowed to make use of its waters, Mr. Abdullah made it clear that no permission will probably be given as of now for any proposal to construct a canal to divert surplus water to different States.

“No one will give it (approval). As of now, I’m not going to provide approval to it. Allow us to be allowed to make use of our water first, then we are going to discuss others,” Mr. Abdullah stated.

He was replying to a query on the central authorities’s proposed development of a 113-km canal to switch surplus water from Jammu and Kashmir to Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan to forestall it from flowing to neighbouring Pakistan.

“Proper now, Jammu is going through water shortage… There isn’t a water within the faucets. Why ought to I ship water to Punjab? Punjab already has three rivers as per the Indus Water Treaty. Has Punjab given us any water?” he stated.

‘Punjab didn’t share water’

The Chief Minister highlighted that when Jammu and Kashmir was determined for water, Punjab didn’t share water from the Ujh multipurpose mission and Shahpur Kandi barrage.

“They made us endure for years, and solely after a protracted battle did they take some steps,” he stated.

“We’ll use it (water) first, and solely then take into account others’ wants,” he added.

Talking concerning the Indus Waters Treaty, he stated the federal government is engaged on two key tasks — The Tulbul Barrage, work on which ought to resume quickly, and the pumping of water from the Chenab River at Akhnoor to produce consuming water to Jammu metropolis.

On restoring Statehood

Mr. Abdullah additionally expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the federal government will stand by their dedication to revive Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

“We’re hopeful that the prime minister, who made a promise to the individuals and reiterated that promise in the course of the Sonamarg occasion and afterwards too, and the federal government will stand by their dedication, and Jammu and Kashmir will get again its standing as a state.”

Requested if taking the authorized route was into consideration, he stated, “When the time comes to speak about authorized choices, I’ll name you.”

On the difficulty of reservation in authorities companies raised by PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, he stated, “How can Mehbooba Mufti communicate on this subject now? Examine her previous tweets (posts on X); she remained silent on this earlier. Now she is exhibiting faux sympathy.”

He stated the Legislation Division is inspecting the report on the difficulty of reservation. As soon as the report comes again, the Cupboard will maintain discussions on it.

Printed – June 20, 2025 04:22 pm IST