Modi Takes Aim at Pakistan: ‘Even My Mild Actions Make Them Sweat’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a strong message to Pakistan on Tuesday, asserting that India’s ongoing efforts to manage the Indus Water Treaty are already causing unease in the neighboring country.

Speaking at a rally in Gandhinagar, Modi highlighted India’s restraint in utilizing its share of the Indus waters, despite the perceived injustices enshrined in the 1960 treaty. ‘Till now India has kept the Indus water under abeyance, and has not taken any firm action yet, and still, Pakistan is sweating,’ Modi stated.

A 60-Year Legacy of Neglect

Modi drew attention to the clause in the treaty that stipulated the gates at the bottom of dams on rivers in Jammu and Kashmir, meant for cleaning and desilting, would remain closed. ‘For 60 years, those gates were never opened. And the reservoirs, which should have been filled to 100% capacity, gradually lost their capacity. It reduced to just 2% or 3%,’ he lamented.

He questioned why Indians are denied their rightful share of water and stressed that despite India’s limited actions, Pakistan is visibly concerned. ‘We’ve opened a few dam gates and started cleaning. We are removing the waste and debris. And even that much is making them panic,’ he added.

Responding to Terror with Strength

Modi also addressed the persistent threat of terrorism emanating from Pakistan, asserting that India needs to adopt a more robust stance. ‘You tell me — should we keep tolerating this? Shouldn’t a bullet be answered with a shell? Shouldn’t a brick be answered with a stone?’, he asked, emphasizing the need for a decisive response to terrorism.

He condemned the targeting of innocent civilians by ‘militarily trained terrorists’ and vowed to eliminate this scourge. ‘No matter how strong or healthy the body is, even a single thorn can cause constant pain–and we’ve decided that the thorn must be removed,’ he declared.