Chandigarh, June 21 -- A political storm erupted in Punjab on Friday after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's controversial statement that his State would not allow water from its Indus basin rivers to flow to Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. The remarks, which come in the backdrop of India keeping the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance, triggered sharp and united reactions from Punjab's political leadership, cutting across party lines.
From the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the opposition Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), leaders condemned the statement, accusing Omar Abdullah of politicizing a sensitive national issue. They unanimously asserted Punjab's rightful claim over a share of the Indus waters, pointing to the sta...