Determined to stop river waters, for our farmers: Modi

Raking up the river water row, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said he was determined to stop the flow of water into Pakistan and bring it for farmers in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.

"The water on which India has its right is flowing into Pakistan. I am committed to stop that water and bring it for our farmers in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of India," Modi told public rally near Bathinda town after laying the foundation stone of an AIIMS.

Expressing his surprise that the water sharing issue had not been taken up by previous Indian governments, Modi said: "The governments slept in Delhi in the past. Our farmers kept crying and the water kept going to Pakistan. We will fight for the rights of our farmers.

"The Indus water treaty, Sutlej, Beas, Ravi - the water of all three rivers, over which our farmers have their right, is not available to them. The water of these rivers is the right of India and our farmers. This water is passing through Pakistan into the sea. Neither Pakistan uses it nor our farmers are able to use.

"I am moving ahead with conviction and have set up a task force on Indus Water Treaty," Modi said.

--IANS

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